Extrapolation

The Good Liberal and the Scoundrel Author

Fantasy, Dissent, and Neoliberal Subjectivity in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

Extrapolation (2014), 55, (2), 199–219.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/extr.2014.12
Language
English
Pages
21

Abstract

Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, has acquired an impressive critical reputation and acquired a favored role in British culture as a social commentator. This essay attempts to link the pleasures associated with the trilogy with the politics inscribed in them, and consider both in the context of Pullman's role in the civil society. The essay suggests that The Northern Lights offers pleasures in fantastical and metaphysical possibilities, and social confederacies that potentially offset the affective privations of neoliberalism. These possibilities are set in the context of recent theories of the "enterprise society." The essay draws attention to a number of discontinuities that unfold as the trilogy progresses, and suggests that these undermine the possibilities inherent in the first novel. These discontinuities throw the role of fantasy and alternative universes into question, and reveal the limitations of Pullman's fiction. The essay considers the limit and scope of Pullman's political vision, both as a function of his fiction and his public engagement with social issues, and suggests that he exemplifies Raymond Williams's concept of "bourgeois dissent" in which political critique and a continuing investment in traditional institutions and class hierarchy can be mutually reinforcing.

Access Token

FormatArticle

£25.00
READ THIS ARTICLE
References
Full Text
PDF
If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Clark, N. "Philip Pullman to Publish New Adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales." The Independent 20 March 2012. Web. Oct. 2012. >http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/philip-pullman-to-publish-new-adaptations-of-grimms-fairy-tales-7579274.html>. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/philip-pullman-to-publish-new-adaptations-of-grimms-fairy-tales-7579274.html Philip Pullman to Publish New Adaptations of Grimm's Fairy Tales The Independent Google Scholar

Edelstein, J. "The Art of Darkness." 3 Dec. 2007. Web. Sept. 2009. http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/node/697 Google Scholar

"Fiction at its Finest." Web. 19 Sept. 2012. http://www.themanbookerprize.com/node/1 Google Scholar

Flood, Alison. "Grimm Outlook: Philip Pullman's Fairytales to Arrive in September." Guardian 20 March 2012. Web. Oct. 2012. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/mar/20/philip-pullman-brothers-grimm-fairytales>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/mar/20/philip-pullman-brothers-grimm-fairytales Grimm Outlook: Philip Pullman's Fairytales to Arrive in September Guardian Google Scholar

Foucault, M. The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. Print. The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France Google Scholar

Gilbert, J. Anticapitalism and Culture: Radical Theory and Popular Politics. Oxford & New York: Berg, 2008. Print. Anticapitalism and Culture: Radical Theory and Popular Politics Google Scholar

Gruner, E. R. "Wrestling with Religion: Pullman, Pratchett, and the Uses of Story." Children's Literature Association Quarterly 36.3 (2011): 276-95. Print. Wrestling with Religion: Pullman, Pratchett, and the Uses of Story Children's Literature Association Quarterly 36 276 95 Google Scholar

Harvey, D. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. A Brief History of Neoliberalism Google Scholar

Hitchens, C. "Oxford's Rebel Angel." Vanity Fair Oct. 2002. Web. Oct. 2011. >http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2002/10/hitchens200210>. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2002/10/hitchens200210 Oxford's Rebel Angel Vanity Fair Google Scholar

Jackson, R. Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion. New York & London: Routledge, 1981. Print. Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion Google Scholar

Lane, H. "Pullman's Progress." Guardian 10 Oct. 2004. Web. Sept. 2011. >www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/oct/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.philippullman>. www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/oct/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.philippullman Pullman's Progress Guardian Google Scholar

McNay, L. "Self as Enterprise: Dilemmas of Control and Resistance in Foucault's The Birth of Biopolitics." Theory, Culture & Society 26.6 (2009): 55-77. Print. Self as Enterprise: Dilemmas of Control and Resistance in Foucault's The Birth of Biopolitics Theory, Culture & Society 26 55 77 Google Scholar

Moretti, F. Signs Taken For Wonders: On the Sociology of Literary Forms. London: Verso, 1983. Print. Signs Taken For Wonders: On the Sociology of Literary Forms Google Scholar

Moruzi, K. "Missed Opportunities: The Subordination of Children in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials." Children's Literature in Education 36.1 (2005): 55-68. Print. Missed Opportunities: The Subordination of Children in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Children's Literature in Education 36 55 68 Google Scholar

Page, B. "Philip Pullman's call to defend libraries resounds around web." Guardian 27 Jan. 2011. Web. Oct. 2011. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/27/philip-pullman-defend-libraries-web>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/27/philip-pullman-defend-libraries-web Philip Pullman's call to defend libraries resounds around web Guardian Google Scholar

"Press Letter on Toxic Childhood." Daily Telegraph 12 Sept. 2006. Web. Oct. 2011. http://ipnosis.postle.net/childhood.htm Google Scholar

Pullman, P. "Listening to the Sprite." Guardian 22 Sept. 2012. Web. Oct. 2012. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/21/grimms-fairy-tales-philip-pullman?INTCMP=SRCH>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/21/grimms-fairy-tales-philip-pullman?INTCMP=SRCH Listening to the Sprite Guardian Google Scholar

Pullman, P. "Theatre—the True Key Stage." The Guardian 30 Mar. 2004. Web. Sept. 2009. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/mar/30/booksforchildrenandteenagers.schools>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/mar/30/booksforchildrenandteenagers.schools Theatre—the True Key Stage The Guardian Google Scholar

Pullman, P. "This is the Big Society, You See. It Must be Big, to Contain so Many Volunteers." Open Democracy 25 Jan. 2011. Web. Sept. 2012. >http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/philip-pullman/this-is-big-society-you-see-it-must-be-big-to-contain-so-many-volunteers>. http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/philip-pullman/this-is-big-society-you-see-it-must-be-big-to-contain-so-many-volunteers This is the Big Society, You See. It Must be Big, to Contain so Many Volunteers Open Democracy Google Scholar

Pullman, P. "We Are Better People than our Government Believes We Are." Guardian 28 Feb. 2009. Web. Oct. 2011. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/feb/28/civil-liberties-philip-pullman>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/feb/28/civil-liberties-philip-pullman We Are Better People than our Government Believes We Are Guardian Google Scholar

Rabinovitz, D. "His Bright Materials." Guardian 10 Dec. 2003. Web. Sept. 2011. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/dec/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.familyandrelationships>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/dec/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.familyandrelationships His Bright Materials Guardian Google Scholar

Rustin, M. & M. Rustin. "Where is Home? An Essay on Philip Pullman's Northern Lights." Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29.1 (2003): 93-105. Where is Home? An Essay on Philip Pullman's Northern Lights Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29 93 105 Google Scholar

Rustin, M. & M. Rustin. "A New Kind of Friendship—An Essay on Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife." Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29.2 (2003): 227-41. A New Kind of Friendship—An Essay on Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29 227 41 Google Scholar

Rustin, M. & M. Rustin. "Learning to Say Goodbye: An essay on Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass." Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29.3 (2003): 415-42. Learning to Say Goodbye: An essay on Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass Journal of Child Psychotherapy 29 415 42 Google Scholar

Sinfield, A. Faultlines: Cultural Materialism and the Politics of Dissident Reading. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992. Print. Faultlines: Cultural Materialism and the Politics of Dissident Reading Google Scholar

Sinfield, A. Literature, Politics and Culture in Postwar Britain. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1989. Print. Literature, Politics and Culture in Postwar Britain Google Scholar

Stuttaford, A. "Sunday School for Atheists." National Review 25 Mar. 2002. Web. Jan. 2013. >http://andrewstuttaford.com/2002/03/25/sunday-school-for-atheists/>. http://andrewstuttaford.com/2002/03/25/sunday-school-for-atheists/ Sunday School for Atheists National Review Google Scholar

Tucker, N. Darkness Visible: Inside the World of Philip Pullman. London: Wizard Books, 2003. Print. Darkness Visible: Inside the World of Philip Pullman Google Scholar

Turner, J. "Reasons for Liking Tolkien: The Hobbit Habit." London Review of Books 15 Nov. 2001. Print. Reasons for Liking Tolkien: The Hobbit Habit London Review of Books Google Scholar

Venn, C. "Neoliberal Political Economy, Biopolitics and Colonialism: A Transcolonial Genealogy of Inequality." Theory, Culture & Society 26.6 (2009): 206-33. Print. Neoliberal Political Economy, Biopolitics and Colonialism: A Transcolonial Genealogy of Inequality Theory, Culture & Society 26 206 33 Google Scholar

Vincent, S. "Driven by Daemons." Guardian 10 Nov. 2001. Web. Sept. 2011. >http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/nov/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.philippullman>. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/nov/10/booksforchildrenandteenagers.philippullman Driven by Daemons Guardian Google Scholar

Walsh, C. "From ‘Capping’ to Intercision: Metaphors/Metonyms of Mind Control in the Young Adult Fiction of John Christopher and Philip Pullman." Language and Literature 12.3 (2003): 233-51. Print. From ‘Capping’ to Intercision: Metaphors/Metonyms of Mind Control in the Young Adult Fiction of John Christopher and Philip Pullman Language and Literature 12 233 51 Google Scholar

Weich, D. "Philip Pullman Reaches the Garden." 2000. Web. http://www.powells.com/authors/pullman.html Google Scholar

Williams, R. "The Bloomsbury Fraction." Problems in Materialism and Culture: Selected Essays. R. Williams. London: Verso, 1989. Print. Problems in Materialism and Culture: Selected Essays Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Maddison, Stephen