AKoeblitz Post for 9/9/2010

In A Critical and Cultural Theory Reader, Macherey is theorizing on the deeper speech within a book. He introduces the idea of “silence” or things unsaid within a book. I think that although this passage is rather repetitive, Macherey establishes a very interesting theory on the compilation and interpretation of a book. He believes that between the beginning and end, or incipit and explicit of a book, the author has said all that can be said; there is nothing more too it and the idea in that context has been fully introduced and concluded. He ponders the idea of whether or not the stuff that has not been said between the pages is a necessity to a book, or rather a simple hesitation of thought. Macherey wonders if the stuff left out of the book is a purposeful direction made by the Author, or if the silence is a place for interpretation. One part of the passage that I found particularly interesting was his ideas towards criticism. Macherey theorizes that criticism does not extend, or aid in completing or correcting the book. He states, “to know what the writer is saying, it is not enough to let him speak, for his speech is hollow and can never be complete at its own level” (Macherey, 16). He believes that criticism may take the book further in that it gives the reader empty space for theory. Theory is made within the silences presented in books, correlating back to Macherey’s point of there being a necessity of silence within a book. By there being open space within a finished compellation, the work itself is able to unveil what itself cannot say. He states, “this silence gives it life”, which means that the silence, along with the theory within the silence, becomes part of the finished piece. Macherey is overall stating that a book is made up of the incipit, the explicit and silence in between which leaves necessary room for theory. He then raps this theory up by stating that instead of asking what the book says, one should ask what the book implies. Macherey believes that there is room for essential theory that comes from what is not said within the book. In this reading, I think that Macherey makes crucial points towards the idea of a completed book, the silence in between, the criticism, and theory that comes from it.