Page 78 - Cultural Studies Dictionary

DISORGANIZED CAPITALISM

constitutive of them. That is, discourse is not best understood as an innocent
reflection of non-linguistic meaning, nor simply in terms of the intentions of
language users. Rather, discourse constructs meaning. Though material objects
and social practices have a material existence outside of language, they are given 55
meaning or ‘brought into view’ by language and are thus discursively formed.
Discourse constructs, defines and produces the objects of knowledge in an
intelligible way while excluding other forms of reasoning as unintelligible. It
structures which meanings can or cannot be deployed under determinate
circumstances by speaking subjects.

Links Discourse analysis, language, poststructuralism, power/knowledge

Discourse analysis Discourse analysis is a form of linguistic investigation that inquires
into the workings of stretches of text. Here the concept of discourse is not
necessarily being used in the way developed by Foucault (above) but more often
than not in the more mundane sense of an expanse of language larger than the unit
of the sentence. Technically speaking, discourse in this context involves the
conjoining of linguistic elements so as to constitute a structure of meaning larger
than the sum of the parts.
Discourse analysis is based on a close examination of texts, whether written or
spoken, so that the textual metaphor need not preclude analysis of speaking
subjects. Thus discourse analysis can be brought to bear on social actions
accomplished by language users who communicate within specific social and
cultural situations. Discourse analysis is interested in naturally occurring text
(written) and talk (verbal) that is studied within its global and local context.
Naturally occurring discourse is a form of social practice the accomplishment of
which is linear and sequential where the constitutive units of discourse may also
be productive of larger units. Consequently, discourse analysis is interested in
levels or layers of discourse and their relations. Discourse analysts are interested
in the generation of meaning as the consequence of rule-governed activities the
exploration of which illuminates the micro processes by which people make
claims about themselves. Thus discourse analysis can demonstrate our
participation in patterns of the linguistic dance of which we are not self-
conscious.
Links Conversation, discourse, language, meaning, representation, text

Disorganized capitalism This is an idea (associated with Lash and Urry) that seeks to
connect widespread contemporary economic, organizational and technological
change to the restructuring and regeneration of global capitalism. Disorganized
capitalism involves the reorganization of capitalism on a world-wide scale involving
in particular the dispersal of capital through globalized production, financing and
distribution. In the West this has been associated with de-industrialization, a
sectoral shift towards the service sector and a rise in flexible forms of work
organization. In this respect the concept shows a similarity to that of the ‘post-
industrial society’. However, it departs from it by stressing the continued