Maurice Blanchot: Modernism, Dissidence and the Privilege of Writing. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matar, Anat
• Is Part Of: Critical horizons. Volume 19:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Blanchot -- Wittgenstein -- Russell -- Marx -- modernism -- dissidence -- writing -- outside -- Israel/Palestine; Critical theory -- Periodicals; 142.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14409917.2017.1376940
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-9917

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The article links Blanchot's philosophical and political ideas. Embarking from his recurrent dialogue with Wittgenstein's Tractatus, it traces the development of Blanchot's "dissident" version of modernism and his notion of "writing", alongside his post-war political involvement and writing. I argue that Blanchot never relinquished the purist modernist idea of the privilege of writing and with it the privilege of his own self-identification primarily as a writer. It is my contention that this emphasis sometimes obfuscated his vision, both conceptually and politically. I exemplify my claim by appealing to Blanchot's unconditional support of Israel and Zionism.