Hauntology in Literature & Literary Theory

Hauntology: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology/Term:

The term “hauntology” combines “haunt” and “ontology.” Coined by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in the 1990s, it is a play on the words, merging the concept of haunting with ontology, which deals with the nature of being and existence. Hauntology delves into the persistent influence of the past on the present, emphasizing the spectral and lingering aspects of history that continue to shape contemporary thought and culture.

Meanings and Concept:

• Temporal Ghosts: Hauntology explores the idea that the past is not entirely gone but continues to linger as spectral “ghosts” in the present, influencing cultural, social, and philosophical discourse.
• Cultural Memory and Nostalgia: It involves an examination of cultural artifacts, memories, and nostalgia, highlighting how they haunt our collective consciousness and shape our understanding of identity and time.
• Lost Futures: Hauntology often reflects on unrealized or abandoned futures, examining the dreams and aspirations that were left unrealized, leaving a haunting imprint on the present.
• Dystopian Aesthetics: In cultural and artistic contexts, hauntology is associated with a certain aesthetic that draws from dystopian visions and explores the eerie, uncanny, and nostalgic aspects of contemporary culture.
• Deconstruction of Certainties: Derrida’s hauntological approach challenges traditional notions of certainty and stability in philosophy, urging a reconsideration of fixed meanings and structures in the context of the ever-present specters of the past.

Hauntology: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Hauntology is a theoretical term coined by philosopher Jacques Derrida, amalgamating “haunt” and “ontology.” It refers to a concept that explores the persistent influence of the past on the present, emphasizing the spectral nature of historical remnants that continue to shape contemporary culture and thought. Hauntology challenges traditional notions of linear time and fixed meanings, encouraging an examination of the lingering, ghostly traces of history in our understanding of existence.

Hauntology: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists:

1. Jacques Derrida: The French philosopher who coined the term hauntology, Derrida’s works such as “Specters of Marx” explore the haunting nature of the past, emphasizing its impact on the present.
2. Mark Fisher: A contemporary cultural theorist, Fisher extensively wrote about hauntology in the context of popular culture and modernity. His influential work, “Ghosts of My Life,” delves into the concept, discussing its implications for music, film, and contemporary society.

Works:

1. “Specters of Marx” by Jacques Derrida: In this seminal work, Derrida examines the spectral quality of Marxism and capitalism, introducing the concept of hauntology as a way to understand the persistent presence of historical ideologies in the post-Cold War era.
2. “Ghosts of My Life” by Mark Fisher: Fisher’s book explores hauntology in the realm of popular culture, discussing how the specters of the past haunt contemporary music, film, and literature, influencing our collective consciousness.
3. “The Condemned of Altona” by Jean-Paul Sartre: Though not explicitly hauntological, Sartre’s play is often referenced in discussions of hauntology. It deals with the haunting impact of history on individuals and their perception of reality.

Arguments:

1. Temporal Dislocation: Hauntology argues that time is not a linear progression but is haunted by the past, challenging conventional notions of history and temporality.
2. Cultural Memory and Nostalgia: The concept asserts that cultural artifacts, memories, and nostalgia for lost futures have a lingering influence on contemporary culture, shaping identity and societal perspectives.
3. Deconstruction of Certainties: Hauntology, rooted in Derridean deconstruction, argues for the reexamination and destabilization of fixed meanings and structures, emphasizing the fluid and spectral nature of language and existence.

Hauntology: Major Characteristics

Major Characteristics:

• Temporal Disjunction: Hauntology involves a disruption of linear time, highlighting the coexistence of past and present. This characteristic challenges conventional notions of historical progression.
• Spectral Presence: The concept emphasizes the lingering influence of the past as spectral entities or “ghosts” that continue to shape contemporary culture, thought, and identity.
• Cultural Nostalgia: Hauntology often explores the theme of cultural nostalgia, where past cultural artifacts, memories, and lost futures evoke a sense of yearning or mourning for what once was or could have been.
• Dystopian Aesthetics: In literature and art, hauntology is associated with a dystopian aesthetic, capturing the eerie and uncanny aspects of the present influenced by historical specters.
• Deconstruction of Certainty: Rooted in Derridean philosophy, hauntology involves the deconstruction of fixed meanings and structures, urging a reevaluation of established concepts and challenging the stability of language and knowledge.

Literary Examples:

• “Ghost Dance” by Sherman Alexie: This short story delves into the haunted history of Native Americans and explores how the past continues to affect the present, manifesting as a spectral dance that connects generations.
• “Beloved” by Toni Morrison: Morrison’s novel features the haunting presence of a murdered child, Beloved, whose spectral existence represents the unresolved trauma of slavery and its impact on the characters’ lives.
• “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy: In this post-apocalyptic novel, the remnants of a devastated world serve as spectral traces of a lost civilization, haunting the characters as they navigate a desolate landscape.
• “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro: Ishiguro’s novel presents a dystopian world where cloned individuals grapple with the haunting reality of their predetermined fates, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the consequences of scientific advancements.

Hauntology: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Hauntology
Postmodernism	Hauntology challenges linear narratives and temporal structures, aligning with postmodern tendencies to deconstruct traditional notions of time and history.
Deconstructionism	Rooted in Derridean philosophy, hauntology inherently aligns with deconstructionism by emphasizing the fluid and spectral nature of language, disrupting fixed meanings and inviting reinterpretation.
Cultural Studies	In cultural studies, hauntology is relevant in analyzing the impact of cultural nostalgia and the persistent influence of the past on contemporary identities, shaping cultural expressions and societal perspectives.
Feminist Criticism	Hauntology can be applied in feminist criticism to explore how the ghosts of patriarchy and historical injustices continue to haunt and shape gender relations, challenging traditional power dynamics.
Postcolonialism	Hauntology is pertinent in postcolonial literature, revealing how the ghosts of colonial history linger in the present, influencing the cultural, social, and political landscapes of formerly colonized societies.
Critical Theory	Critical theorists may find hauntology valuable in examining how the unresolved traumas and specters of history contribute to the construction and deconstruction of societal norms, ideologies, and power structures.

Hauntology: Application in Critiques

1. Beloved by Toni Morrison:
   • Hauntology in Trauma: Morrison’s Beloved intricately employs hauntological elements to critique the trauma of slavery. The spectral presence of Beloved represents the unresolved history haunting the characters. The past, in the form of the ghostly child, disrupts the characters’ present lives, illustrating the enduring impact of slavery on their identities.
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro:
   • Dystopian Hauntology: Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go integrates hauntology to critique a dystopian world shaped by scientific advancements. The clones’ predetermined fate and the haunting reality of their existence evoke a sense of lost futures. Hauntology becomes a tool for critiquing the ethical implications of manipulating human life and the consequences of unchecked technological progress.
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
   • Hauntology of the American Dream: Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby can be critiqued through a hauntological lens to explore the haunting of the American Dream. Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of an idealized past, represented by Daisy, is haunted by the impossibility of recreating or reclaiming what has been lost. The novel critiques the illusionary nature of the American Dream and the lingering specters of unattainable aspirations.
4. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:
   • Historical Hauntology in Magical Realism: Marquez’s work can be critiqued through hauntology by examining the magical realist elements as specters of history. The novel’s fantastical events and the Buendía family’s cyclical experiences can be seen as the haunting repetition of history in Latin America. Hauntology becomes a lens for critiquing the impact of colonialism, political instability, and the cyclical nature of historical patterns in the region.

In each of these literary works, hauntology offers a critical perspective that goes beyond a traditional analysis, allowing for an exploration of the spectral and lingering aspects of history, trauma, and societal ideals.

Hauntology: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
1. Spectrality	Quality of being ghostly, indicating lingering past presence.
2. Palimpsest	Manuscript with layers of overwritten text, symbolizing historical depth.
3. Phantom Limb	Sensation of a missing limb, metaphorically denotes traces of the past.
4. Residue	Remnants or traces, akin to the lingering influence of the past.
5. Ephemeral	Transient or fleeting, reflecting the temporary nature of cultural phenomena.
6. Echo	Reflection or repetition, symbolizing the reverberation of historical ideas.
7. Vestiges	Traces of something no longer present, aligning with hauntology’s focus.
8. Liminality	State of being on the threshold, describing blurred past and present.
9. Holograph	Three-dimensional image, metaphorically suggesting a multidimensional past.
10. Emanation	Flowing out, conceptually linked to historical influences in the present.

Hauntology: Suggested Readings

1. Derrida, Jacques. Specters of Marx: The State of the Debt, the Work of Mourning, and the New International. Translated by Peggy Kamuf, Routledge, 1994.
2. Fisher, Mark. Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology, and Lost Futures. Zero Books, 2014.
3. Freud, Sigmund. The Uncanny. Translated by David McLintock, Penguin Books, 2003.
4. Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go. Vintage Books, 2005.
5. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.
6. Sartre, Jean-Paul. The Condemned of Altona. Translated by Sylvia and George Leeson, Vintage, 1995.