Michel Foucault and Judith Butler : troubling Butler's appropriation of Foucault's work
One of the main influences on Judith Butlerâs thinking has been the work of Michel Foucault. Although this relationship is often commented on, it is rarely discussed in any detail. My thesis makes a contribution in this area. It presents an analysis of Foucaultâs work with the aim of countering Butlerâs representation of his thinking. In the first part of the thesis, I show how Butler initially interprets Foucaultâs project through Nietzschean genealogy, psychoanalysis and Derridean discourse, and how she later develops this interpretation in line with the progress of her own project. In the main part of the thesis, I present an analysis of Foucaultâs thinking in the period from The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969) to The History of Sexuality volume 1 (1976). This analysis focuses on the aspect of his work which has most influenced Butlerâs thinking: namely the notion of a relationship between knowledge, discourse and power. The other issues in his work which Butler addressesâgenealogy, the subject, the body, abnormality, and sexualityâare discussed within this framework. I show how, in the early 1970s, Foucault develops the notion of power-knowledge, and sets out a relationship between power-knowledge
Ennis, Kathleen
B Philosophy (General)
Michel Foucault and Judith Butler : troubling Butler's appropriation of Foucault's work. One of the main influences on Judith Butlerâs thinking has been the work of Michel Foucault. Although this relationship is often commented on, it is rarely discussed in any detail. My thesis makes a contribution in this area. It presents an analysis of Foucaultâs work with the aim of countering Butlerâs representation of his thinking. In the first part of the thesis, I show how Butler initially interprets Foucaultâs project through Nietzschean genealogy, psychoanalysis and Derridean discourse, and how she later develops this interpretation in line with the progress of her own project. In the main part of the thesis, I present an analysis of Foucaultâs thinking in the period from The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969) to The History of Sexuality volume 1 (1976). This analysis focuses on the aspect of his work which has most influenced Butlerâs thinking: namely the notion of a relationship between knowledge, discourse and power. The other issues in his work which Butler addressesâgenealogy, the subject, the body, abnormality, and sexualityâare discussed within this framework. I show how, in the early 1970s, Foucault develops the notion of power-knowledge, and sets out a relationship between power-knowledge
foucault butler butler appropriation foucault_work one_main influence butler think work michel_foucault although relationship often comment rarely discussed detail make area present_analysis foucault_work aim counter butler representation thinking first_part show butler initially interpret foucault project nietzschean genealogy psychoanalysis derridean discourse later develop interpretation line progress project main_part present_analysis foucault thinking period archaeology knowledge history sexuality volume person analysis focus aspect work influence butler thinking namely notion relationship knowledge discourse power issue work butler address genealogy subject body abnormality sexuality discuss within_framework show foucault develop notion power knowledge set relationship power knowledge