On Aesthetic Anthropological Interpretation Of Bakhtin’s Carnival Theory

Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin (1895-1975) is a famous literary scholar, philosopher, critic, philosopher of the former Soviet Union. He created a series of theories, which have an important impact on the multi-disciplinary such as literature, anthropology, folklore, psychology, linguistics, etc. In a long and mixed history of academic research, Bakhtin established his historical poetics based on the "Paralinguistics Philosophy", and put forwarded some theories("dialogism","carnivalism","polyphonic novel" and "heteroglossia ") in analyzing and discussing literary form, which influenced post-structuralism and post-modernism. Today, these theories still inspired scholars by magnificent tolerance and adventurous creative spirit.In Bakhtin’s so many theories, I select his theory of "carnival" as my subject of study deep from a perspective of aesthetic anthropology. And in the paper, in order to a detailed analyses towards its origin and development, I use two method:literature and interdisciplinary comparison.In the introduction, I review Bakhtin’s life and research status on him. Then outline the appear and development of aesthetic anthropology. At last, I point the thesis’s value and meaning that the theory of "carnival" has a noumenon space on philosophy level and an energetic style now in a new academic perspective.In chapter one, I expound content of the theory of "carnival". First, I point out the theory entrench itself in the ancient folk culture soil through tracing to the source of old carnival, a traditional festival of European; second, I contrast the theory and the more earlier similar theories from the history of esthetics angle, especially Bakthin sublated Nietzsche’s theory; third, I investigate the theory’s forming process through the study on "gargantua and pantagruel" by Bakthin. in the intercomparison of "carnival","carnival ceremony" and "carnivalism", I find out Bakthin’s paid close attention to the idea that human’s pursuit to a ultimate emancipator of humanity in literature.In chapter two, I discuss cultural origin of the theory of "carnival" and it’s noumenon significance. At first, the theory is established a profound comprehension of folk culture especially the simple and complete animation in agricultural society before class. Under the study on perpetual carnival tradition, it find the human’s subconsciousness to always desire a world named of "rebirth","freedom" and "aquality"; at second, the theory gradually grows up benefitted the Bakthin’s literary criticism advancing at each other. The theory of "carnival", born with freedom, open a afresh research of a batch of literature such as "gargantua and pantagruel" at that time, but also can emit it’s unique voice in today’s literary and art criticism. The latter behaves well in cyberspace, which acknowledges and guides present rising folk culture and mass culture in theory level where exits so many roaring voices. So the theory win itself a huge criticism space; at last, I preview the history of ontology and indicate as the death of metaphysical ontology, human returns a "tribe". Philosophy lies its emphasis on "this shore" instead of "the other shore", and human lives a essence that purse a more and more free, equal and newborn "carnival" state by continuous integration. One word,"carnival" become a new noumenon we are fight for, so the theory is not a remote utopia.In chapter three, in the background of cyberspace, I analyze human’s survival form and possibility of new contact pattern comparing with past through the "carnival" human aesthetic displayed on the theory of "carnival" of Bakthin. cyberspace compels us into a post-geography and post-history era. Human’s exchange opens a new concept of time-space by speed and cleanness of light. So our aesthetic world will be change great. So many concepts, such as science-technology and humanity, oneness and diversity on language, race and culture, body and soul, all will accommodate more comprehensive meaning, because all changes in a visible speed towards the free utopia human deep for. In chapter four, I expound the value and significance of this thesis. In the first place, Bakthin’s theories pose a gesture of "interpromoting relation in each theory", of course the theory of "carnival" isn’t a exception and it has its originality and subjective assumption. Instead of comprehensive analysis in depth on history, Bakthin abstract person one by one into a people monolithic at carnival square, which replace commendable democracy by his subjective choice. Obviously, this is self-contradictory, comparing with the social analysis Bakthin advocated. In other words, formalism made a mistake at absolute binary opposition between society and text, and Bakthin mixed the concrete and abstract inner social analysis taking for granted; in the second place, the theory springs up in cyberspace by a rebirth; last but not least, from theory and practice level, I summarize the theory’s enlightenment on some aspects such as academic research, interdisciplinary practice, academic spirit and human’s integrated development.In the conclusion part, I summarize two point around the theory of "carnival" First, the theory is not a entirely self-sufficient theory. On one hand, it interweaves Bakthin’s other theories and impacts at each other; on the other hand, it born with dialogicality and openness and still can influence today’s people and world; second, the theory can get to the bottom of primitive thought and religion level, which flows as human’s stream of consciousness till today reflecting the dream of free aesthetic existence; third, in cyberspace, the theory is realizing ubiquitous exchange and blend. Human harvests unprecedented convenience by technicalization. The theory compel us to meditate on the ironic negative indifference phenomenon appearing today in a high-spirited ardour to break limits.The paper innovate in a atheistic anthropology perspective, which find out a possibility that the theory of "carnival" can be fulfilled in cyberspace. It adopt interdisciplinary research methods and relevantly take example of anthropology, folklore, etc. above all, I want to indicate follows:the theory of "carnival" has a newborn value and significance in theory of literature and art research; this theory’s study is a systematic academic project, not only involved Bakthin’s many other theories, but connected multi-discipline’s knowledge, and most, emits radiant splendor in cyberspace.