The disciplines of sociology and literature are profoundly interlinked and are constantly interacting with each other to deeply understand human society. Jane Routh and Janet Wolff (1990) in their book, The Sociology of Literature: Theoretical Approaches speak of literature being used by sociology. It is seen as a source of data, a type that would not be otherwise available to a sociologist, and as a carrier of crystallized values and attitudes, as well as information about institutions (Routh and Wolf 1990: 2). Literature is understood as both a “social product and social force”, affecting society and continually involved in the process of social development. Numerous scholars have pointed out that literature is a record of social experiences, an embodiment of social myths, ideals, and aims, and an organisation of social beliefs and sanctions. In Marxism and Literature, Raymond Williams’ remarks that ‘literature is immediate human experience, usually with an associated reference to minute particular’ (1977: 45) This article briefly discusses some aspects of the sociology of literature.
Sociology of Literature
Sociology of literature being a sub-discipline of the sociology of knowledge deals with the relationship between literature and society, in other words, literary ideas and social reality. Sociology of knowledge has been defined by Karl Manheim as a theory of social or existential conditioning of thought. According to him all knowledge and ideas are supposed to be bound to location (with varying degrees) within the social structure and historical process. Manheim has stressed that ideas are rooted in a differential location in historical time and social structure of their proponents so that thought is inevitably perspectivistic (Coser 2006: 431).
Concerning most of the theories related to the relationship between literature and society, the assertion is on reflection, influence, and social control. To elaborate we interpret literature as reflecting norms and values, as revealing the ethos of the culture, the various processes of class struggle, and certain kinds of social facts. Influence is not to be seen as the reverse of reflection as it involves cultural ideals as well as social stability. Social control articulates with one version of reflection but to a limited extent in complex societies.
As one explores the relationship between literature and society three important points require engagement. First, literature reflects society, second, literature influences or shapes society, and third is that “literature functions socially to maintain and stabilize, if not to justify and sanctify, the social order, which may be called the social control theory” (Albrecht 1954: 425). Literature represents settings, behaviour patterns, and ideas in their complex interrelationships which is why literature has been thought to reflect “economics, family relationships, climate and landscapes, attitudes, morals, races, social classes, political events, wars, religions, and many more detailed aspects of the environment and social life” (Albrecht 1954: 423). The most common understanding of literature is that it reflects generally the significant values and norms of a culture. In psychology, a variant of this conception is that stories presented in movies reflect the stress patterns and emotional needs of audiences, which arise out of the same cultural and social life. Similarly, it could be pointed out that literature significantly reflects the attitudes and shared experiences of society.[i]
The moral value of literature can be seen in the literature’s effect on society. It can be argued that literature not only influences but also shapes society. Take for example Werther, a character in Goethe’s work, Sorrows of a Young Werther, a literary creation that was responsible for a wave of suicides – literary works can set trends, can bring about social changes, can ignite political movements, and reforms. As for the case of society shaping literature, the literary works produced at a time in history are in response to what is happening in the erstwhile society. For example Romanticism while speaking of imaginative, and emotional perception of the world was a response to the positivistic, objective, and rationalistic approach dominant during the seventeenth century. This particular approach emphasizes that artists are after all agents of social forces rather than individual geniuses with an inventive imagination. The historical emphasis on reflection has tended to distract attention from the question of the influence of literature on society. The two concepts could be seen as two sides of the same coin. One can then argue that “art is at once a social product, and an established means of social control” (Mukherjee 1945: 496).
To further understand literature’s role in social control one can borrow from Malinowski’s study of the role of myth among the Trobriand Islanders. Malinowski points out that the myth comes into play “when rite, ceremony, or a social or moral rule demands justification, warrant of antiquity, reality, and sanctity”. It contributes to social solidarity and supports the existing social order. This shows how myths or different kinds of literature perform certain social functions to have social control or to maintain social order. In a complex society, literature may be limited to norms and values. Instead of leading to social solidarity, it may lead to conflict and group disunity depending on the groups’ values, beliefs, and customs. Moreover, influence is not a simple cause-effect relationship, as it is commonly assumed, it is selective, and it is determined primarily by the individual’s background and needs. Someone may focus on particular items and be influenced by them, but opposing forces may also be present to cancel or modify the effect of these influences. It is here that the moral value of literature is further emphasized.
The debate on whether literature reflects society, whether literature shapes or influences society or literature’s role in social control can continue to no end; but the cultural value of literature, to assert once again, in society is beyond doubt. A reader may accept or reject the variety of literary works available to her. As Weber reminds one of the social actors being conscious, as a reader they shall too be. One cannot deny the integral role literature plays in society, whether it is expanding one’s horizon or it is bringing social change or giving rise to a conflict. A Marxist approach can further help in understanding the complexities of the relationship between literature and society as it emanates from a source that Marx shared with the Romantics – “the dream of the whole man” (Fischer 1963).
References:
Albrecht, Milton, C. (1954), “The Relationship of Literature and Society”, American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 59, No. 05, pp. 435-436.
Coser, Lewis, A. (2013), Masters of Sociological Thought, New Delhi: Nice Printing Press.
Fischer, Ernst (1963), The Necessity of Art: A Marxist Approach, Middlesex: Penguin Books.
Mukherjee, Radhakamal (1945), “The Meaning and Evolution of Art in Society”, American Sociological Review, Vol. 10, No. 04, pp. 496-503.
Routh, Jane and Janet Wolff (1990), The Sociology of Literature: Theoretical Approaches, Staffordshire: University of Keele.
Williams, Raymond (1977), Marxism and Literature, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[i] Another version of reflection is derived from the dialectical materialism of Marx. Marx himself wrote little specifically on literature but the theoretical basis in his writings on this theme can be found in the Introduction to the Critique of Political Economy. Marx has argued that literature like the rest of culture is a superstructure of social consciousness erected on productive relationships. However, as he points out elsewhere, like the rest of the culture, through dialectical interaction it then modifies and conditions productive relationships. It is on this argument that Marxist criticism has evolved and changed over a period of time. This article does not discuss the Marxist perspective.
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Sana Khan is currently working as an assistant professor at the school of education in Azim Premji University. Her research interests include Sociology of art, literature, theatre, education, social movements and Political Sociology. She can be reached at sana.khan@apu.edu.in.