The Capture of Speech and Other Political Writings

The Capture of Speech and Other Political Writings

Michel de Certeau
Introduction by Luce Giard
Translated and with an afterword by Tom Conley

OUT OF PRINT

Who has the right to speak? How is this right acquired? What happens when this right is denied or inhibited? These are the questions examined by Michel de Certeau in this foundational exploration of political expression and participation.

In The Capture of Speech, de Certeau identifies "communication" as the irreducible element in the politics of modern societies. Moving beyond formal or legal definitions of rights, he argues that to "communicate" in a contemporary political system means not only having the abstract possibility of utterance, but possessing the conditions that allow being heard. De Certeau emphasizes that all too often free speech is upheld in the abstract while social institutions work in such a way as to deny access to effective communication.

The book's title essay was written in response to the revolutionary events of May 1968 and established de Certeau's public reputation as an intellectual with great insight into the ramifications and possibilities of those revolts. Almost thirty years later, these essays remain a central resource for exploring de Certeau's political thought, particularly his preoccupation with achieving authentic and substantive social diversity. The Capture of Speech not only provides the basis for a pragmatics of utopian thinking, but also is a testament to the force of the intellectual revolutions that have marked Western culture since 1968.

Michel de Certeau (1925-1986) wrote numerous books, including Heterologies (1986) and The Practice of Everyday Life (1984). During his life, he taught at the University of California, San Diego and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris.

Tom Conley is professor of French at Harvard University. He is the author of The Self-Made Map (1996) and translated The Writing of History (1992), also by Michel de Certeau.

192 pages | 5 7/8 x 9 | 1998



The Capture of Speech and Other Political Writings Michel de Certeau Introduction by Luce Giard Translated and with an afterword by Tom Conley		OUT OF PRINT
Who has the right to speak? How is this right acquired? What happens when this right is denied or inhibited? These are the questions examined by Michel de Certeau in this foundational exploration of political expression and participation. In The Capture of Speech, de Certeau identifies "communication" as the irreducible element in the politics of modern societies. Moving beyond formal or legal definitions of rights, he argues that to "communicate" in a contemporary political system means not only having the abstract possibility of utterance, but possessing the conditions that allow being heard. De Certeau emphasizes that all too often free speech is upheld in the abstract while social institutions work in such a way as to deny access to effective communication. The book's title essay was written in response to the revolutionary events of May 1968 and established de Certeau's public reputation as an intellectual with great insight into the ramifications and possibilities of those revolts. Almost thirty years later, these essays remain a central resource for exploring de Certeau's political thought, particularly his preoccupation with achieving authentic and substantive social diversity. The Capture of Speech not only provides the basis for a pragmatics of utopian thinking, but also is a testament to the force of the intellectual revolutions that have marked Western culture since 1968. Michel de Certeau (1925-1986) wrote numerous books, including Heterologies (1986) and The Practice of Everyday Life (1984). During his life, he taught at the University of California, San Diego and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. Tom Conley is professor of French at Harvard University. He is the author of The Self-Made Map (1996) and translated The Writing of History (1992), also by Michel de Certeau. 192 pages \| 5 7/8 x 9 \| 1998