Narrative Subversion in Literature & Literary Theory

Narrative Subversion: Etymology and Concept

Etymology: The term “narrative subversion” draws its etymological roots from the Latin word “subvertere,” where “sub” signifies from below or beneath, and “vertere” means to turn.

The compound “subvertere” denotes the act of overthrowing, overturning, or undermining established structures. Applied to narrative, the term implies a deliberate and strategic deviation from conventional storytelling conventions, challenging expectations and disrupting the anticipated progression of a narrative

Concept:

Aspect	Meaning
Definition	Deliberate deviation from conventional storytelling, challenging expectations and disrupting the narrative’s anticipated progression.
Latin Basis	Rooted in Latin “subvertere,” signifying the act of overthrowing or undermining established structures.
Creative Deviation	Techniques defying norms, introducing unexpected twists, alternative perspectives, or unconventional resolutions in a narrative context.
Reevaluation Prompt	Prompts a reevaluation of the narrative order by defying expectations and introducing elements that subvert conventional storytelling.
Lit. & Cultural Studies	Gains prominence in literary and cultural studies as a concept encapsulating creative strategies to defy, deconstruct, or critique prevailing narrative frameworks.
Defiance of Norms	Represents narrative defiance, challenging established norms to offer fresh perspectives and engage audiences in a thought-provoking manner.
Strategic Undermining	Involves a strategic undermining of traditional narrative structures, introducing disruptions that force a reassessment of the expected trajectory.
Deconstructionist Approach	Aligns with a deconstructionist approach, emphasizing the dismantling of conventional narrative elements to expose underlying assumptions.
Narrative Innovation	Reflects a commitment to innovation, encouraging authors to experiment with form, style, and content, fostering new ways of storytelling.

Narrative Subversion: Literal Meanings

1. Narrative Deviation:
   • Literal meaning: The intentional departure from the expected or conventional path of a story, diverging from the established narrative trajectory.
2. Overturning Stories:
   • Literal meaning: The act of flipping or reversing the elements and expectations within a narrative, challenging and altering the standard progression of a story.
3. Undermining Narratives:
   • Literal meaning: The deliberate weakening or subverting of the foundations and established structures of a narrative, leading to a reevaluation of its core elements.
4. Twisting Tale Elements:
   • Literal meaning: The act of contorting or bending the components of a story, introducing unexpected turns, alternative perspectives, or unconventional resolutions.
5. Defying Story Norms:
   • Literal meaning: Going against the established norms and conventions of storytelling, challenging the expected patterns and introducing elements that deviate from the usual.
6. Strategically Disrupting Stories:
   • Literal meaning: The planned introduction of disruptions and disturbances within a narrative, aiming to strategically alter the course and impact of the story.
7. Deconstructing Story Elements:
   • Literal meaning: The process of systematically breaking down and analyzing the individual components of a narrative, exposing underlying assumptions and challenging preconceived notions.
8. Innovating Narratives:
   • Literal meaning: The creative act of introducing new and original elements to a story, encouraging experimentation with form, style, and content to foster innovative storytelling.

Narrative Subversion: Definition as a Theoretical Term

Narrative subversion, as a theoretical term, refers to the deliberate and strategic deviation from established storytelling conventions, challenging preconceived expectations and disrupting the anticipated progression of a narrative. This concept involves the intentional introduction of unexpected twists, alternative perspectives, or unconventional resolutions within a narrative framework. By undermining traditional narrative norms, narrative subversion prompts a reevaluation of the established order, fostering innovative and thought-provoking approaches to storytelling within literary and cultural studies.

Narrative Subversion: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

1. Roland Barthes:
   • Work: S/Z
   • Argument: Barthes, through his exploration of narrative structures, contributes to the theoretical understanding of narrative subversion by highlighting the potential for dismantling and reinterpreting traditional narrative codes.
2. Michel Foucault:
   • Work: The Archaeology of Knowledge
   • Argument: Foucault’s examination of historical discourses and the power dynamics within them lays the groundwork for understanding how narratives can be subverted to challenge prevailing norms and ideologies.
3. Jacques Derrida:
   • Work: Of Grammatology
   • Argument: Derrida’s deconstructive approach provides insights into how language, as a medium of narrative, can be subverted and destabilized, paving the way for alternative interpretations and meanings.
4. Julia Kristeva:
   • Work: Revolution in Poetic Language
   • Argument: Kristeva’s exploration of the semiotic and symbolic dimensions of language informs discussions on narrative subversion, emphasizing the potential for disrupting established linguistic and narrative structures.

Key Works:

1. S/Z by Roland Barthes:
   • Argument: Barthes deconstructs narrative structures, providing a model for understanding how narratives can be subverted through careful analysis and reinterpretation of narrative elements.
2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood:
   • Argument: Atwood’s narrative challenges traditional power structures, exemplifying narrative subversion through its depiction of a world where established norms are subverted.
3. The Trial by Franz Kafka:
   • Argument: Kafka’s work serves as an illustration of narrative subversion by challenging conventional structures and societal order through surreal and absurd narrative.

Common Arguments:

1. Deconstruction of Power Structures:
   • Theorists argue that narrative subversion involves the deconstruction of power structures, allowing for the exposure and critique of prevailing ideologies.
2. Alternative Interpretations:
   • Narrative subversion enables the generation of alternative interpretations, emphasizing the potential for challenging dominant discourses and offering new perspectives.
3. Semiotic Disruptions:
   • The exploration of semiotic disruptions within narratives is a common argument, emphasizing how narrative subversion can manifest through the destabilization of linguistic and symbolic elements.
4. Social and Political Commentary:
   • Many argue that narrative subversion serves as a tool for social and political commentary, allowing authors to critique societal norms and advocate for change through innovative narrative strategies.

Narrative Subversion: Relevance to Literary Theories

Narrative subversion refers to the intentional deviation from traditional or expected narrative conventions, often challenging established norms and expectations within a literary work. This technique can be employed across various literary theories, each offering a unique perspective on how narrative subversion functions. Here’s a brief exploration of how narrative subversion relates to some key literary theories:

1. Structuralism:
   • Narrative Subversion: In structuralism, narratives are seen as systems of signs and symbols with interconnected relationships. Narrative subversion challenges these established structures by disrupting the expected patterns and relationships within a story.
   • Relevance: By subverting structural norms, authors can question the inherent stability of narrative systems and challenge the reader’s assumptions about the predictability of a story.
2. Poststructuralism/Deconstruction:
   • Narrative Subversion: Deconstruction involves analyzing and dismantling the binary oppositions and hierarchies within a text. Narrative subversion can be a deconstructive act by destabilizing these oppositions, leading to a more fluid and open-ended interpretation of the text.
   • Relevance: Narrative subversion aligns with the poststructuralist idea that meaning is not fixed but is contingent on the reader’s interpretation, allowing for a multiplicity of meanings and perspectives.
3. Feminist Literary Theory:
   • Narrative Subversion: In feminist theory, narrative subversion can challenge and deconstruct traditional gender roles and stereotypes present in literature. It can provide a platform for marginalized voices and perspectives.
   • Relevance: By subverting gender norms and expectations, authors contribute to the broader feminist discourse, critiquing and reshaping societal perceptions of gender within the literary landscape.
4. Marxist Literary Theory:
   • Narrative Subversion: Marxist theory focuses on class struggle and societal structures. Narrative subversion can critique and challenge these structures, often by depicting the struggles of marginalized or oppressed groups.
   • Relevance: By subverting the traditional narratives that may perpetuate class divisions, authors can promote social consciousness and inspire readers to question existing power dynamics.
5. Psychoanalytic Literary Theory:
   • Narrative Subversion: Psychoanalytic theory explores the subconscious elements of the mind. Narrative subversion can disrupt conventional psychological patterns, offering alternative explorations of characters’ motivations and desires.
   • Relevance: Authors may use narrative subversion to challenge or deconstruct Freudian or Jungian archetypes, providing a fresh perspective on the complexities of human psychology.
6. Cultural Studies:
   • Narrative Subversion: Cultural studies examine the ways in which culture and society influence and are influenced by literature. Narrative subversion can challenge cultural norms and offer alternative narratives that reflect a more diverse and inclusive cultural landscape.
   • Relevance: By subverting dominant cultural narratives, authors can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of identity, representation, and power dynamics within society.

Narrative Subversion: Application in Critiques

Narrative subversion can be a powerful and insightful tool when applied in critiques of literary works. By actively challenging and subverting traditional narrative conventions, authors can achieve various effects that are worthy of critique. Here are some ways in which narrative subversion can be applied in literary critiques:

1. Challenge of Expectations:
   • Application: Identify instances where the narrative deliberately deviates from conventional plot structures, character development, or thematic expectations.
   • Critique: Evaluate the effectiveness of these deviations in challenging reader expectations. Discuss whether the subversion adds depth, complexity, or a fresh perspective to the work.
2. Subversion of Tropes and Clichés:
   • Application: Examine how the narrative subverts or deconstructs common literary tropes and clichés.
   • Critique: Assess the impact on the story’s originality and the author’s ability to engage the reader by avoiding predictable or formulaic elements. Consider whether the subversion contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the narrative.
3. Deconstruction of Characters and Archetypes:
   • Application: Analyze how the characters defy or deconstruct traditional archetypes or stereotypes.
   • Critique: Discuss the implications of character subversion on themes, symbolism, and the overall message of the work. Evaluate whether the author’s choices contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
4. Disruption of Chronology and Time:
   • Application: Explore how the narrative manipulates time through non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or other temporal disruptions.
   • Critique: Assess the impact on the reader’s comprehension and emotional engagement. Discuss whether the temporal subversion enhances or detracts from the narrative’s overall coherence and effectiveness.
5. Narrative Unreliability:
   • Application: Identify instances where the narrator’s reliability is intentionally compromised.
   • Critique: Consider the implications of narrative unreliability on the reader’s understanding of the story. Evaluate whether this subversion adds complexity, intrigue, or challenges the reader to critically engage with the text.
6. Cultural and Societal Subversion:
   • Application: Examine how the narrative subverts cultural norms, societal expectations, or power structures.
   • Critique: Discuss the relevance of these subversions in the context of the work’s cultural commentary. Evaluate whether the subversions contribute to a broader social critique and challenge existing power dynamics.
7. Language and Style Subversion:
   • Application: Analyze how the author subverts language, style, or linguistic conventions for thematic or aesthetic purposes.
   • Critique: Consider the impact on the reader’s experience and interpretation. Discuss whether the subversion enhances the work’s artistic merit or if it poses challenges to accessibility and readability.
8. Interplay with Literary Theory:
   • Application: Connect the narrative subversion to specific literary theories, such as structuralism, poststructuralism, feminism, etc.
   • Critique: Evaluate how the subversion aligns with or challenges the theoretical frameworks, contributing to a deeper understanding of the work within a specific critical context.

In literary critiques, it’s essential to consider both the intentions behind narrative subversion and its impact on the overall literary experience. A nuanced critique should explore how these subversive elements contribute to the work’s thematic richness, innovation, and engagement with readers.

Narrative Subversion: Relevant Terms

1. In medias res: Starting a narrative in the middle of the action.
2. Bildungsroman: A novel focusing on the moral and psychological growth of the main character.
3. Pastoral: A work idealizing rural life.
4. Anachrony: The use of temporal disruption in storytelling.
5. Epistolary Novel: A novel composed of letters or written communication.
6. Frame Narrative: A narrative structure with a story enclosed within another.
7. Narrative Ambiguity: The intentional inclusion of elements with multiple interpretations.
8. Avant-Garde: Innovative, experimental, unconventional art.
9. Unreliable Chronology: Deliberately presenting events in a non-chronological order.
10. Polyphony: Simultaneous presentation of multiple voices, perspectives, or narrative strands.

Narrative Subversion: Suggested Readings

1. Danielewski, Mark Z. House of Leaves. Pantheon, 2000.
2. Calvino, Italo. If on a winter’s night a traveler. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.
3. Mitchell, David. Cloud Atlas. Random House, 2004.
4. Danielewski, Mark Z. The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May. Pantheon, 2015.
5. Faulkner, William. The Sound and the Fury. Vintage, 1929.
6. Cortázar, Julio. Hopscotch (Rayuela). Pantheon, 1966.
7. Nabokov, Vladimir. Pale Fire. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1962.