Comrade Mikhail Bakhtin's Defense of his Dissertation: "Rabelais in the History of Realism". Performing Bakhtin’s Defense

Abstract

Four of us from the first cohort of the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice at KCC and the University of Bedfordshire presented at the 2014 Bakhtin Conference in Stockholm. During the conference, the English translation of Bakhtin’s viva was freely circulated to attendees and was given a table reading by some members of the conference committee.

A key figure from the inception of the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice at KCC and the University of Bedfordshire, was Professor John Shotter. John Shotter was a Bakhtin immersive. Bakhtin was definitely in the category of what Professor Mary Gergen referred to as John’s many textual friends. I was fairly sure John was not aware of this document.

It turned out that John Shotter had not known of the existence of this transcription neither in the original Russian nor in its English translation. It was a real discovery for him and presumably many others. He was excited to see it and was further thrilled at the invitation to direct a performance of Bakhtin’s Viva at the inaugural Bedfordshire International Systemic Practice and Research School in February 2015 at Brathay Hall, Ambleside.

John set about editing it, re-engaging with his theatre directing history, saying one had to allow no more than 80 words a minute of speech. So he cut it down and the doctoral students were invited to perform one of the actual participants in the viva/defence. You can watch the recording of this unrehearsed, spontaneously read-performed event via the link at the end of this document. In the performance, John introduces the work of Rabelais and Bakhtin and plays the part of Bakhtin in his own viva.

Watch/listen on the Systemic Practice Channel on YouTube

Thanks to:
• The stenographer whose name is not known.
• Denis Zhernokleyev and Caryl Emerson who translated the stenographer’s transcript from Russian into English.
• John Shotter who adapted the script, directed and introduced the performance.
• The doctoral researchers at the 2015 Bedfordshire International Systemic Practice and Research School who acted the participants.

Gail Simon, DProf, Editor