شهرزاد محمدحسین

Enthusiasm in the field of comparative studies, concentrating on similarities, variations and influences enhanced in the early decades of the nineteenth century with the rise of Occidental interest in Oriental advancements. About a century later, Michael Foucault introduced his cutting-edge theory, in which he illustrated how the various discursive institutions in a society are related to the circulation of power/knowledge. Hayden White revolutionized the historical outlook towards narrating events by emphasizing on the relationship between the supremacy and the oppressed, while insisting on the disclosure of cause-effect relationships in historiographical analysis. It is the objective of this study to investigate and trace the key notion of “influence” as proposed by the French School of Comparative Literature in the selected pieces, “When in Rome” by Mari Evans and “The Teacher and the Student” by Simin Behbahani in order to reveal how the texts, under the influence of hyper-contextual links of causality which are present in socio-cultural discourses, lead and contribute to the circulation of power and knowledge. Findings will indicate how the comparison of distinct artistic works demonstrates similitude in the expression of views and intentions while relying on factors which are extrinsically appended to them.

The precedence of poetry can be traced to ancient times when man first realized that he could combine speech with rhythmicity and musicality to convey his inner-most thoughts and passions expressively. The strengths and advantages attributed to poetry are galore ; however, few think of employing it as a source for retrieving cultural facts. In the present study, the endeavor of the researcher is to display how poetry can be utilized to extract cultural concepts which are embedded in the mass cultural consciousness of a people by scrutinizing their poetry. The complexity of notions, expressed through poetry, can be revealed once verses are deconstructed and the poem is perused scholarly to single out hypograms which are the units carrying the essence of meaning. The inevitable result would be the revelation of different layers of meaning which are convoluted into leitmotifs and only a thorough analysis and meticulous reading can exhibit the relationship between the signs, signifier and the signified. As both poetry and cultural studies share the characteristic of being implicit, it is necessary to employ methods which aid clarity and lucidity. A sophisticated analysis requires the use of thick description, the method which cleaves the kernels of thought to display intended meaning and acts as a viable catalyst expediting the process of comprehension through interpretation.

Although there are propitious merits to poetry galore, few would suggest it as a means for the exemplification of critical theories. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of human sciences, there exists a reciprocal connection between findings in literature which will aid critiques to illustrate the veracity of their theories. Black poetry stands out as a favorable example of how the dialectics of power domination circulates within a society, not perpetually residing with the supremacy. The following paper elaborates on Foucault’s well-known power/knowledge critical theory by focusing on co-textual influences and presents a discussion exemplified in Mari Evans’ anthologized poem, “When in Rome”.Background of the Study: Regardless of Mari Evans’ authenticity, inadequate attention has been paid to her work in the form of critical analysis. Considering all its merits, her poetry deserves to be noticed all the more since as a committed poet, Evans is true to the principles of Black Art which demands of its followers to support issues concerning the Black minority. In this regard, Evans’ poetry outstands the works of her peers. Controversial instances, which have often been challenged in the crucible of critical thought, may need to be exemplified for the sake of elucidation. Hayden White’s insistence that events be narrated according to the survey of causes and effects and Foucault’s theory of power/knowledge circulation serve as the critical backbone of the present study. This paper aims to illustrate how Mari Evans’ selected poem, as a complement to Foucault’s theory and White’s approach to the study of history, tends to display that the circulation of power within a given society is not transferred hierarchically but rather promulgates dialectically, as defined by historiography, from one agent to another based on an imbalance in knowledge possession. Historically, it has always been assumed that the white supremacy has domination over the black minority, given that it has full grasp of knowledge, and this is exactly the presumption that is challenged in Foucault’s theory. “When in Rome” provides adequate ground in support of the theory and exhibits how common thought about domination of power and the elements which contribute to the existing functional contradictions within social relationships can be challenged. Furthermore, the poem provides sound context to question the historically presumption of alleged superiority for the White.

Foucault emphasizes on several points when he presented his power/knowledge theory. First, he stipulates that power and knowledge are integral parts of man’s existence and accentuates their interrelationship. Second, he defines certain characteristics for power, namely that it is not transmitted in a structure of levelized arrangement but circulates uninhibitedly among agents and last, that power cannot exist without resistance. White emphasizes the requirement of seeking causes and effects behind the occurrence of events, particularly to explain existing conflicts. The poem and the theories complement each other by presenting a clear and comprehensible illustration of critical-literary notions.

The application of Foucault’s theory to Evans’ poem, “When in Rome”, and investigating the causes and effects which initiate the circulation, demonstrate the qualities attributed to power, knowledge and their interrelated connection. As observed in the poem, a member of the working class is caught in the dialectical circulation of power by her employer who represents supremacy. Through knowledge and by exerting resistance, the dominated individual orients power in her own direction and avoids imposition. The poem is a revealing piece of literary work exemplifying the highlights of historical-literary reciprocity to perfection.