The Signifying Monkey
Encyclopedia
The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism is a work of literary criticism
and theory by American scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. first published in 1988. The book traces the folkloric origins of the African-American cultural practice of “signifying” and uses the concept of Signifyin(g) to analyze the interplay between texts of prominent African American writers, specifically Richard Wright
, Ralph Ellison
, Zora Neale Hurston
and Ishmael Reed
.
Signifyin(g) is closely related to double-talk and trickery of the type used by the Monkey of these narratives, but, as Gates himself admits, “It is difficult to arrive at a consensus of definitions of signifyin(g).” Bernard W. Bell defines it as an “elaborate, indirect form of goading or insult generally making use of profanity.” Roger D. Abrahams writes that to signify is “to imply, goad, beg, boast by indirect verbal or gestural means.” Signifyin(g) is a homonym with the concept of signification put forth by Semiotician Ferdinand de Saussure
wherein the signifier
(sound image) interacts with the signified (concept) to form one whole linguistic sign. Gates plays off this homonym and incorporates the linguistic concept of signifier and signified with the vernacular concept of signifyin(g).
Gates defines two main types of literary Signifyin(g): oppositional (or motivated) and cooperative (or unmotivated). 'Unmotivated Signifyin(g) takes the form of the repetition and alteration of another text, which “encode admiration and respect” and are evidence “not the absence of a profound intention but the absence of a negative critique." Gates more thoroughly focuses on oppositional or motivated Signifyin(g) and how it "functions as a metaphor for formal revision, or intertextuality, within the Afro-American literary tradition." Authors reuse motifs from previous works but alter them and “signify” upon them so as to create their own meanings. Ralph Ellison
revises or “signifies” upon Richard Wright
’s work just as Ishmael Reed
goes onto signify upon both authors’ work and so forth.
wrote that it put Gates “at the forefront of the most significant reappraisal of African-American critical thought since the 1960s.” It won an American Book Award
in 1989. However, it was also closely scrutinized to the point of “being more talked about than read, more excoriated than understood.” Complaints against it include that Gates's focus is exclusively Afrocentric, that he presupposes the signifying tradition and then fits his evidence to conform to the tradition, and that he is guilty of circular logic. Nonetheless, The Signifying Monkey has helped contribute to the reputation of Gates as one of the two most important (along with Houston Baker) African-American literary theorists of the late 20th and early 21st century.
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
and theory by American scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. first published in 1988. The book traces the folkloric origins of the African-American cultural practice of “signifying” and uses the concept of Signifyin(g) to analyze the interplay between texts of prominent African American writers, specifically Richard Wright
Richard Wright (author)
Richard Nathaniel Wright was an African-American author of sometimes controversial novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerns racial themes, especially those involving the plight of African-Americans during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries...
, Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison
Ralph Waldo Ellison was an American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ellison is best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953...
, Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
and Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.Reed has been described as one of the most controversial...
.
Signifyin(g) is closely related to double-talk and trickery of the type used by the Monkey of these narratives, but, as Gates himself admits, “It is difficult to arrive at a consensus of definitions of signifyin(g).” Bernard W. Bell defines it as an “elaborate, indirect form of goading or insult generally making use of profanity.” Roger D. Abrahams writes that to signify is “to imply, goad, beg, boast by indirect verbal or gestural means.” Signifyin(g) is a homonym with the concept of signification put forth by Semiotician Ferdinand de Saussure
Ferdinand de Saussure
Ferdinand de Saussure was a Swiss linguist whose ideas laid a foundation for many significant developments in linguistics in the 20th century. He is widely considered one of the fathers of 20th-century linguistics...
wherein the signifier
Sign (semiotics)
A sign is understood as a discrete unit of meaning in semiotics. It is defined as "something that stands for something, to someone in some capacity" It includes words, images, gestures, scents, tastes, textures, sounds – essentially all of the ways in which information can be...
(sound image) interacts with the signified (concept) to form one whole linguistic sign. Gates plays off this homonym and incorporates the linguistic concept of signifier and signified with the vernacular concept of signifyin(g).
Gates defines two main types of literary Signifyin(g): oppositional (or motivated) and cooperative (or unmotivated). 'Unmotivated Signifyin(g) takes the form of the repetition and alteration of another text, which “encode admiration and respect” and are evidence “not the absence of a profound intention but the absence of a negative critique." Gates more thoroughly focuses on oppositional or motivated Signifyin(g) and how it "functions as a metaphor for formal revision, or intertextuality, within the Afro-American literary tradition." Authors reuse motifs from previous works but alter them and “signify” upon them so as to create their own meanings. Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison
Ralph Waldo Ellison was an American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ellison is best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953...
revises or “signifies” upon Richard Wright
Richard Wright (author)
Richard Nathaniel Wright was an African-American author of sometimes controversial novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerns racial themes, especially those involving the plight of African-Americans during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries...
’s work just as Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.Reed has been described as one of the most controversial...
goes onto signify upon both authors’ work and so forth.
Critical reception
Upon publication in 1988, The Signifying Monkey received both widespread praise and notoriety. Prominent literary critic Houston A. Baker wrote that it was “a significant move forward in Afro-American literary study” and Andrew DelbancoAndrew Delbanco
Dr. Andrew H. Delbanco is Director of American Studies at Columbia University and has been Columbia's Julian Clarence Levi Professor in the Humanities since 1995...
wrote that it put Gates “at the forefront of the most significant reappraisal of African-American critical thought since the 1960s.” It won an American Book Award
American Book Award
The American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
in 1989. However, it was also closely scrutinized to the point of “being more talked about than read, more excoriated than understood.” Complaints against it include that Gates's focus is exclusively Afrocentric, that he presupposes the signifying tradition and then fits his evidence to conform to the tradition, and that he is guilty of circular logic. Nonetheless, The Signifying Monkey has helped contribute to the reputation of Gates as one of the two most important (along with Houston Baker) African-American literary theorists of the late 20th and early 21st century.
See also
- Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban PresentSignifying Rappers: Rap and Race In the Urban PresentSignifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present is a nonfiction book by David Foster Wallace and Mark Costello. The book explores this music's history as it intersects with historical events, either locally and unique to Boston, or in larger cultural or historical contexts.- Title :The title...
(1989), contemporary text examining signifyin(g) from a literary theoretical perspective