“Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin: Critique of the Essay

Introduction: “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin

Art and Answerability by Mikhail Bakhtin, was published in the miscellany Den’ iskusstva (The Day of Art) in 1919 and later included in the collection Art and Answerability: Early Philosophical Essays by M.M. Bakhtin in 1990. The article explores the relationship between art and life, emphasizing the necessity of their interconnectedness and mutual answerability. Bakhtin criticizes the mechanical separation of art and life, where art becomes self-indulgent and life remains prosaic. He argues that true inspiration arises from the integration of art and life, where both are accountable to each other. This accountability fosters a unity within the individual, where artistic experiences enrich life and life’s concerns inform artistic creation. The article contributes to literary discourse by challenging the notion of art as an isolated realm and highlighting the importance of art’s engagement with the complexities of human existence.

Summary of “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin

• Definition of a ‘Mechanical’ Whole: The text defines a “mechanical” whole as one where constituent elements are connected only in space and time through external means, lacking an internal unity of meaning: “A whole is called ‘mechanical’ when its constituent elements are united only in space and time by some external connection and are not imbued with the internal unity of meaning” (Bakhtin).
• Superficial Unity of Human Culture Domains: It is argued that the domains of science, art, and life achieve genuine unity only when an individual integrates them meaningfully into their life, though often this integration is merely superficial: “The three domains of human culture—science, art, and life—gain unity only in the individual person who integrates them into his own unity. This union, however, may become mechanical, external” (Bakhtin).
• Disconnection Between Art and Life: The text highlights a prevalent issue where art becomes overly self-sufficient and detached from everyday life, failing to be accountable for its influence on life: “Art is too self-confident, audaciously self-confident, and too high-flown, for it is in no way bound to answer for life” (Bakhtin).
• Concept of ‘Answerability’: Bakhtin introduces the crucial concept of “answerability,” which demands that individuals integrate their artistic insights into their lives meaningfully, ensuring that such experiences have a real impact: “I have to answer with my own life for what I have experienced and understood in art, so that everything I have experienced and understood would not remain ineffectual in my life” (Bakhtin).
• Critique of ‘Inspiration’ as an Excuse: The misuse of “inspiration” as a justification for ignoring life’s demands is criticized. True inspiration should engage with life, not dismiss it: “Nor will it do to invoke ‘inspiration’ in order to justify want of answerability. Inspiration that ignores life and is itself ignored by life is not inspiration but a state of possession” (Bakhtin).
• Demand for Mutual Answerability Between Art and Life: The text advocates for a reciprocal responsibility between art and life, emphasizing the need for a deeper integration and mutual accountability within the individual: “Art and life are not one, but they must become united in myself—in the unity of my answerability” (Bakhtin).

Literary Terms in “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin

Key Theoretical Concept	Definition
Answerability/Mutual Accountability	The ethical responsibility that art and life have towards each other. Art should address life’s concerns, and life should be enriched by art.
Mechanical Unity	The artificial separation of art and life, where they exist as isolated realms with no interaction. Bakhtin criticizes this as detrimental to both.
Inner Unity	The ideal state where art and life are integrated within the individual, enriching and informing each other. This is achieved through mutual answerability and ethical responsibility.
Guilt/Liability to Blame	The ethical dimension of the relationship between art and life. Both are held accountable for their shortcomings and failures, fostering responsibility and engagement.
Inspiration as Possession	Bakhtin’s critique of inspiration as a divine or otherworldly force that separates the artist from life. He advocates for grounded inspiration rooted in lived experience and answerable to it.
Note:	While not explicitly coined in this essay, Bakhtin’s later works would introduce and elaborate on key concepts like dialogism, polyphony, and carnivalesque, which are foundational to his literary theory and philosophy of language. These are not included in the table.

Contribution of “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin in Literary Theory

Examples of Critiques: “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin

Literary Work	Critique through “Art and Answerability” Concepts
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)	This novel could be critiqued for its portrayal of the Jazz Age as a time of superficial glamour and excess, where art (parties, fashion) serves as an escape from the harsh realities of life. The characters’ pursuit of wealth and social status ultimately leads to disillusionment and tragedy, suggesting a lack of mutual answerability between art and life.
The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)	Holden Caulfield’s alienation and cynicism can be interpreted as a critique of the “mechanical unity” between art (phoniness, conformity) and life. Holden rejects the artificiality of the adult world, seeking authenticity and connection, but his inability to find them reflects the lack of inner unity between art and life.
Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)	The novella’s exploration of colonialism and its devastating impact on both colonizers and colonized can be seen as a critique of the lack of answerability in art and life. The atrocities committed in the name of progress and civilization highlight the consequences of a disconnection between art (ideals, rhetoric) and the lived realities of exploitation and violence.
The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)	This dystopian novel portrays a society where art (religion, propaganda) is used to control and manipulate individuals. The subjugation of women and the suppression of their creative expression reflect a lack of mutual answerability, where art serves as a tool for oppression rather than a means of liberation and connection.

Criticism Against “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin:

• Oversimplification of Art and Life: Bakhtin’s dichotomy between art and life might be seen as overly simplistic, as the boundaries between the two are often blurred and complex.
• Idealistic Notion of Unity: The concept of “inner unity” between art and life could be considered idealistic and difficult to achieve in practice, given the diverse and often conflicting nature of human experiences.
• Limited Scope: The essay primarily focuses on the relationship between art and individual life, neglecting the broader social and political dimensions of art’s impact and responsibility.
• Neglect of Formalist Concerns: Bakhtin’s emphasis on the ethical and moral dimensions of art might be seen as neglecting the aesthetic and formal aspects that are crucial to understanding and appreciating artistic works.
• Eurocentric Perspective: The essay’s focus on Western art and philosophy might limit its applicability to other cultural contexts with different artistic traditions and values.
• Ambiguity of “Answerability”: The concept of “answerability” itself is open to interpretation and can lead to varying and even conflicting understandings of the responsibilities of art and artists.

Suggested Readings: “Art and Answerability” by Mikhail Bakhtin