Narrative of Subversion: An Analytical Study of Norman Mailer’s Critique of Dominant Culture in An American Dream

Abstract

In an era dominated by the stranglehold of capitalist culture, counter-cultural narratives present significant resistance to the dominant system. Double-voiced narratives, polyphonic speeches, etc., look toward subverting the dominant hierarchy of the era. Within this context, this paper aims to examine American author Norman Mailer’s work of fiction, An American Dream (1965), as a subversive narrative against the dominant culture of the 1960s USA. It will focus on multiple meanings, intentions and personas reflected within the dialogues, thoughts and language of the novel. This paper incorporates theories propounded by Mikhail Bakhtin, Julia Kristeva among others to highlight the subversive elements embedded within the structure of the novel under discussion. This paper further argues that the text by Mailer posits its uniqueness through its crafty use of polyphony, parody and subtle negation of the maxims of dominant culture. The paper also aims to conclude that the novel under discussion demonstrates the difficulties of subverting the layers of a dominant culture by figures living within that system.