Panoramas et « romans vrais » de la société : formes et stratégies de la représentation sociale en France (xixe-xxie siècle)

Abstract

How can we portray and analyse society adequately? This question which previously occupied the literary milieu of the nineteenth century now knows a revival not least due to projects like Raconter la vie (Pierre Rosanvallon) providing an opportunity for the French people to talk about their lives and to thus co-write the “true novel of today’s society.” This article aims at presenting some current projects of social representation. In the process, both the medial, narrative and epistemological strategies of some ongoing projects as well as their historical references shall be made visible.

Keywords

• social representations
• literature and sociology
• collective works
• Raconter la vie
• panoramic literature