Under the Veneer of Words Lies Power: Foucauldian Analysis of Oleanna
The notion of power and gender domination is one of
the inseparable aspects of themes in postmodern literature. The
reason of its importance has been discussed frequently since the rise
of Michel Foucault and his insight into the circulation of power and
the transgression of forces. Language and society operate as the basic
grounds for the study, as all human beings are bound to the set of
rules and norms which shape them in the acceptable way in the
macrocosm. How different genders in different positions behave and
show reactions to the provocation of social forces and superiority of
one another is of great interest to writers and literary critics. Mamet’s
works are noticeable for their controversial but timely themes which
illustrate human conflicts with the society and greed for power. Many
critics like Christopher Bigsby and Harold Bloom have discussed
Mamet and his ideas in recent years. This paper is the study of
Oleanna, Mamet’s masterpiece about the teacher-student relationship
and the circulation of power between a man and woman. He shows
the very breakable boundaries in the domination of a gender and the
downfall of speech as the consequence of transgression and freedom.
The failure of the language the teacher uses and the abuse of his own
words by a student who seeks superiority and knowledge are the
main subjects of the discussion. Supported by the ideas of Foucault,
the language Mamet uses to present his characters becomes the
fundamental premise in this study. As a result, language becomes
both the means of achievement and downfall.
[1] D. K. Sauer, “Oleanna and The Children’s Hour: Misreading Sexuality
on the Post/Modern Realistic Stage.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views:
David Mamet, Ed. H. Bloom, United States of America: Chelsea House
Publishers, 2004, pp. 203-225.
[2] D. Bruster, “David Mamet and Ben Jonson: City Comedy Past and
Present.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: David Mamet, Ed. H. Bloom,
United States of America: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004, pp. 41-56.
[3] C. Falzon, Foucault and Social Dialog. London: Routledge, 1998. pp. 9-
54.
[4] Rouse, Joseph. “Power/Knowledge.” The Cambridge Companion to
Foucault. Ed. Gary Gutting. New York: Cambridge University Press,
2003, pp. 95-111.
[5] R. Skloot, “Oleanna, or, the Play of Pedagogy.” Gender and Genre, Eds.
C. C. Hudgins, L. Kane, New York: Palgrave, 2001, pp. 95-107.
[6] C. Bigsby, “David Mamet.” The Cambridge Companion to David
Mamet. Ed. C. Bigsby, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004,
pp.1-40.
[7] D. Mamet, Oleanna, New York: Pantheon Books, 1993.
[8] M. Foucault, Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings
1972-1977, Ed. C. Gordon et al. New York: Pantheon Books, 1980.
p.87.
[9] A. Allen, "Foucault and the Politics of Our Selves," History of the
Human Sciences, 2011, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 43-59.
[10] S. Price, “Disguise in Love: Gender and Desire in House of Games and
Speed-the-Plow.” Gender and Genre. Eds. C. C. Hudgins, L. Kane, New
York: Palgrave, 2001, pp. 41-59.
[11] M, Silverstein, “‘We’re Just Human’: Oleanna and Cultural Crisis.”
South Atlantic Review. South Atlantic Modern Language Association,
May. 1995, pp. 103-119.
[1] D. K. Sauer, “Oleanna and The Children’s Hour: Misreading Sexuality
on the Post/Modern Realistic Stage.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views:
David Mamet, Ed. H. Bloom, United States of America: Chelsea House
Publishers, 2004, pp. 203-225.
[2] D. Bruster, “David Mamet and Ben Jonson: City Comedy Past and
Present.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: David Mamet, Ed. H. Bloom,
United States of America: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004, pp. 41-56.
[3] C. Falzon, Foucault and Social Dialog. London: Routledge, 1998. pp. 9-
54.
[4] Rouse, Joseph. “Power/Knowledge.” The Cambridge Companion to
Foucault. Ed. Gary Gutting. New York: Cambridge University Press,
2003, pp. 95-111.
[5] R. Skloot, “Oleanna, or, the Play of Pedagogy.” Gender and Genre, Eds.
C. C. Hudgins, L. Kane, New York: Palgrave, 2001, pp. 95-107.
[6] C. Bigsby, “David Mamet.” The Cambridge Companion to David
Mamet. Ed. C. Bigsby, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004,
pp.1-40.
[7] D. Mamet, Oleanna, New York: Pantheon Books, 1993.
[8] M. Foucault, Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings
1972-1977, Ed. C. Gordon et al. New York: Pantheon Books, 1980.
p.87.
[9] A. Allen, "Foucault and the Politics of Our Selves," History of the
Human Sciences, 2011, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 43-59.
[10] S. Price, “Disguise in Love: Gender and Desire in House of Games and
Speed-the-Plow.” Gender and Genre. Eds. C. C. Hudgins, L. Kane, New
York: Palgrave, 2001, pp. 41-59.
[11] M, Silverstein, “‘We’re Just Human’: Oleanna and Cultural Crisis.”
South Atlantic Review. South Atlantic Modern Language Association,
May. 1995, pp. 103-119.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:70347", author = "D. Arjmandi", title = "Under the Veneer of Words Lies Power: Foucauldian Analysis of Oleanna", abstract = "The notion of power and gender domination is one of
the inseparable aspects of themes in postmodern literature. The
reason of its importance has been discussed frequently since the rise
of Michel Foucault and his insight into the circulation of power and
the transgression of forces. Language and society operate as the basic
grounds for the study, as all human beings are bound to the set of
rules and norms which shape them in the acceptable way in the
macrocosm. How different genders in different positions behave and
show reactions to the provocation of social forces and superiority of
one another is of great interest to writers and literary critics. Mamet’s
works are noticeable for their controversial but timely themes which
illustrate human conflicts with the society and greed for power. Many
critics like Christopher Bigsby and Harold Bloom have discussed
Mamet and his ideas in recent years. This paper is the study of
Oleanna, Mamet’s masterpiece about the teacher-student relationship
and the circulation of power between a man and woman. He shows
the very breakable boundaries in the domination of a gender and the
downfall of speech as the consequence of transgression and freedom.
The failure of the language the teacher uses and the abuse of his own
words by a student who seeks superiority and knowledge are the
main subjects of the discussion. Supported by the ideas of Foucault,
the language Mamet uses to present his characters becomes the
fundamental premise in this study. As a result, language becomes
both the means of achievement and downfall.", keywords = "Domination, foucault, language, mamet, oleanna,
power, transgression.", volume = "9", number = "7", pages = "2350-4", }