Polarization in Literature & Literary Theory

Polarization: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology and Term:

The term “polarization” originates from the concept of poles in physics, denoting the opposite ends of a spectrum. In broader contexts, it refers to the division or separation of groups or individuals into opposing factions or viewpoints. The prefix “polar-” indicates extremity or opposition, while “-ization” denotes the process of forming or undergoing a particular state or condition. Thus, polarization encapsulates the idea of increasing divergence or separation between contrasting positions or ideologies.

Meanings and Concept:

• Social: Describes the widening gap or division within a society along various lines such as political, ideological, socioeconomic, or cultural differences.
• Political : Refers to the increasing ideological distance between political parties or factions, often leading to gridlock, hostility, and decreased cooperation within political systems.
• Media: Signifies the tendency of media outlets to align with specific ideological perspectives, leading to the dissemination of biased information and the reinforcement of existing beliefs among audiences.
• Cognitive: Represents the psychological phenomenon where individuals become more entrenched in their beliefs or opinions, rejecting opposing viewpoints and seeking out information that confirms their existing biases.
• Economic: Indicates the growing disparity in wealth and income distribution within a society, resulting in the concentration of resources among a small segment of the population while others face economic hardship and marginalization.
• Geopolitical: Reflects the division of the global community into opposing blocs or alliances based on geopolitical interests, ideologies, or strategic objectives, leading to increased tensions and conflicts on the international stage.

Polarization: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Polarization, in a theoretical sense, refers to the process of increasing divergence or separation between distinct positions, ideas, or groups within a system. This phenomenon typically involves the strengthening of extreme viewpoints or ideologies while diminishing the middle ground or moderate perspectives. It often leads to heightened tensions, decreased cooperation, and a greater propensity for conflict or gridlock within the affected system.

Polarization: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists	Works	Arguments
Jonathan Haidt	“The Righteous Mind”	Haidt argues that moral psychology drives political polarization, with individuals forming strong emotional attachments to their ideological “tribes”.
Cass Sunstein	“Republic.com”	Sunstein discusses how the internet and social media exacerbate polarization by allowing individuals to curate their information environments.
Elijah Anderson	“The Cosmopolitan Canopy”	Anderson explores the concept of urban spaces as “cosmopolitan canopies” where people from diverse backgrounds interact and find common ground.
Francis Fukuyama	“Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment”	Fukuyama examines the role of identity politics in driving polarization, arguing that individuals seek recognition and dignity through group affiliations.
Robert Putnam	“Bowling Alone”	Putnam discusses the decline of social capital and civic engagement in America, highlighting how this trend contributes to political and social polarization.
Daniel Kahneman	“Thinking, Fast and Slow”	Kahneman’s work on cognitive biases and heuristics sheds light on how individuals process information and make decisions, revealing mechanisms that contribute to polarization.

Polarization: Major Characteristics

1. Division: It involves the creation of distinct and often opposing groups or factions within a larger system, such as society, politics, or culture.
2. Heightened Conflict: Polarization typically leads to increased tensions, hostility, and conflicts between the polarized groups as they perceive each other as adversaries rather than collaborators.
3. Echo Chambers: Polarization fosters the formation of echo chambers, where individuals primarily interact with others who share their beliefs, reinforcing existing viewpoints and creating a barrier to opposing perspectives.
4. Limited Cooperation: Polarization diminishes the willingness of individuals or groups to collaborate or compromise, leading to gridlock in decision-making processes and hindering progress on issues of mutual concern.
5. Intensified Rhetoric: It is often accompanied by the use of inflammatory language and heightened rhetoric by both sides, as they seek to rally support within their own camp and discredit opposing viewpoints.
6. Reduced Empathy: It can lead to a lack of understanding or empathy towards those holding opposing views, as individuals become more entrenched in their own beliefs and less open to considering alternative perspectives.
7. Identity Formation: Polarization is often intertwined with identity politics, where individuals derive a sense of identity and belonging from their alignment with a particular group or ideology, further reinforcing divisions.
8. Selective Perception: Polarization influences how individuals perceive information, leading them to selectively interpret evidence in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs while discounting contradictory evidence.
9. Social Fragmentation: It can contribute to social fragmentation, weakening social cohesion and trust within communities as individuals increasingly associate only with like-minded others, leading to societal rifts and isolation.
10. Impact on Institutions: It can have profound effects on institutions such as governments, media, and civil society, undermining their ability to function effectively and fulfill their intended roles in society.

Polarization: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Polarization
Feminist Theory	Polarization can be relevant in feminist literary analysis by examining power dynamics and gender divisions within texts and societies, highlighting the polarization between genders and feminist perspectives on such divisions.
Postcolonial Theory	Postcolonial literary theory often explores the polarization of power structures between colonizers and colonized, as well as the polarization of cultural identities and narratives in the aftermath of colonization.
Marxist Theory	Marxist literary theory may analyze polarization in terms of class struggle, examining how literature reflects and reinforces the division between social classes and the unequal distribution of power and resources in society.
Queer Theory	Queer theory may address polarization in terms of sexuality and gender, exploring how literature reflects and challenges binary constructions of identity and the polarization between heteronormative and queer perspectives.
Ecocriticism	Ecocritical approaches may examine polarization between humans and the natural world depicted in literature, as well as the polarization between environmentalist and anthropocentric worldviews, highlighting themes of ecological imbalance and conflict.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Psychoanalytic literary theory might analyze polarization in terms of the internal conflicts and divisions within characters’ psyches, as well as the polarization between conscious and unconscious desires, exploring themes of identity fragmentation and struggle.
Structuralist Theory	Structuralist literary theory may focus on the polarization between binary oppositions and structural elements within texts, examining how these polarities generate meaning and structure narrative dynamics.
Poststructuralist Theory	Poststructuralist approaches may deconstruct polarities and challenge binary oppositions within texts, questioning the stability of meaning and exploring how polarization functions as a discursive construct.
Reader-Response Theory	Reader-response theory may consider how readers’ interpretations of texts are influenced by polarization, including their alignment with or resistance to dominant ideologies and perspectives presented in literature.
New Criticism	New Criticism might analyze polarization in terms of tensions and contradictions within the formal elements of a text, exploring how these polarities contribute to the text’s aesthetic complexity and overall meaning.

Polarization: Application in Critiques

1. Play: “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov (Russia):
   • Polarization is present in the socioeconomic divide between the aristocratic landowners, such as Lyubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya, and the newly emerging middle class represented by Lopakhin. This polarization reflects the tensions between the old feudal order and the changing social and economic landscape of Russia at the turn of the 20th century.
   • Critiques might analyze how Chekhov uses polarization to critique the decline of the Russian aristocracy and the rise of capitalism, exploring themes of social upheaval, loss, and the passage of time.
2. Short Story: “The Guest” by Albert Camus (France/Algeria):
   • Polarization is evident in the relationship between the French colonial authorities and the Arab inhabitants of colonial Algeria. The protagonist, Daru, finds himself caught between these polarized identities and allegiances, symbolizing the broader tensions between colonizer and colonized.
   • Critics could examine how Camus uses polarization to explore themes of existential alienation, moral ambiguity, and the complexities of justice in a colonial context.
3. Poem: “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot (United States/United Kingdom):
   • Polarization is depicted through the fragmented and disjointed narrative of “The Waste Land,” reflecting the fractured state of modern society in the aftermath of World War I. The poem juxtaposes various cultural, religious, and historical references, highlighting the disintegration of traditional values and the breakdown of social cohesion.
   • Critiques might explore how Eliot’s use of polarization serves as a critique of modernity and the disillusionment of the post-war generation, emphasizing themes of spiritual desolation, cultural decay, and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented world.
4. Play: “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen (Norway):
   • Polarization is evident in the gender dynamics portrayed in “A Doll’s House,” where the protagonist, Nora Helmer, confronts the patriarchal constraints of 19th-century Norwegian society. The play explores the polarized expectations placed on men and women, as well as the power imbalances within marriage and family relationships.
   • Critics could analyze how Ibsen uses polarization to challenge societal norms and advocate for women’s rights and autonomy, highlighting themes of identity, liberation, and the struggle for self-realization.

Polarization: Relevant Terms

Theoretical Term	Definition
1. Fragmentation	Breaking something into smaller, disconnected parts, leading to a lack of unity.
2. Dichotomy	Division into two mutually exclusive categories or concepts.
3. Alienation	State of isolation or disconnection from oneself, others, or society.
4. Dualism	Philosophical division of reality into two irreducible categories.
5. Schism	Rift within a group, marked by deep-seated disagreements.
6. Segregation	Enforced separation based on characteristics like race or social status.
7. Partisanship	Strong support for a specific party or cause, often biased against opposition.
8. Factionalism	Division of groups into smaller factions due to internal disagreements.
9. Polarization	Increasing divergence between distinct positions or groups, often leading to conflict.
10. Balkanization	Fragmentation of a region or society into smaller, often hostile, entities.

Polarization: Suggested Readings

1. Abramowitz, Alan I., and Steven Webster. The Great Alignment: Race, Party Transformation, and the Rise of Donald Trump. Yale UP, 2018.
2. Anderson, Elijah. The Cosmopolitan Canopy: Race and Civility in Everyday Life. W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.
3. Fukuyama, Francis. Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.
4. Haidt, Jonathan. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. Pantheon Books, 2012.
5. Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. Crown, 2018.
6. McCarty, Nolan, Keith T. Poole, and Howard Rosenthal. Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches. MIT Press, 2008.
7. Mutz, Diana C. In-Your-Face Politics: The Consequences of Uncivil Media. Princeton UP, 2015.
8. Putnam, Robert D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster, 2001.
9. Sunstein, Cass R. #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton UP, 2017.
10. Sunstein, Cass R. Republic.com 2.0. Princeton UP, 2007.