Slovo a Smysl (Aug 2015)
Ideology as Metaphor, Narrative, and Performance in the Writings of Václav Havel // Ideology as Metaphor, Narrative, and Performance in the Writings of Václav Havel
Abstract
From his pre-1989 essays to his post-1989 presidential speeches, V. Havel develops an account of ideology that avoids a standard dictionary definition (ideology as a system of political or economic beliefs) and relies almost exclusively on elaboration via metaphor, narrative, and performance. The import of Havel’s treatment of ideology has not been appreciated. Metaphors, stories, and performances are special forms of appeal that prompt us to rethink the meaning of a given domain. This paper explores how Havel exploits the creative potential of these forms of appeal in order to radically reconceptualize our understanding of ideology as a force in the modern world.
