Noam Chomsky is rightly regarded as one of the major figures in modern linguistics as the creator of generative grammar, which has transformed the discipline. He is best known to the public, however, as a political activist of anarchistic bent. Apparently, this transcript of "conversations" with French linguist Mitsou Ronat, previously published in France (1977), is intended to bridge these two aspects of Chomsky's prolific career, but the bridge turns out to be a very long one indeed. In the first part, Chomsky discusses the role of intellectuals in formulating and maintaining the dominance of a particular ideology, especially in the U.S. He denies that any special competence is required to intervene in questions of public policy and affairs, seeing all such claims for competence as hierarchically-based justifications for a pseudo-technocratic elite. Chomsky the political activist is therefore simply Chomsky the citizen, while Chomsky the linguist is Chomsky the value-free scientist, and he declines to see any significant connection between the two. In the second part, he discusses the trajectory of his scientific work over the past 25 years, outlining his theories of generative grammar, semantics, deep structure, etc., and offering interesting distinctions between his and related approaches. However, Chomsky's politically-rooted efforts at a critique of ideology lack the theoretical underpinnings of his "neutral" linguistic work, and the differences between Chomsky and Michel Foucault on this score are brought up by Ronat. The only connection between the two Chomskys—and it may be significant—is that his linguistics is part of an effort to establish a scientific basis for making assertions about human nature, and his political activity entails a vision of a future society redesigned to accord with that scientifically-established human nature. This is not an entirely comforting revelation. Although the sections on linguistics and the "human sciences" are rather technical, the juxtaposition of Chomsky's two personas is enlightening, even if no new light is shed on the two subjects themselves.
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1978
ISBN: 0394736192
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Pantheon
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1978
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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