The Place of Literature in The Scope-Libre

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Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
2011
THE PLACE OF LITERATURE IN THE SCOPE OF THE SEMIOTIC THEORY OF

CULTURE
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
Universidade de So Paulo
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses how literature fits into the larger process of culture, based, on the one hand, on a
broad conception of literature, relying on dichotomies fiction/nonfiction and utilitarian/distracting,
and, on the other hand, on the semiotic theory of culture of hedonistic-functional line. The objective is
to demonstrate how the categories distracting fictional literature, utilitarian fictional literature,
distracting nonfiction literature, utilitarian nonfiction literature and the resulting forms of hybridity of
these categories can be described by means of hedonic and pragmatic functions of social practices and
their subtypes and are linked to concepts of culture in the broad sense (everything that opposes the
domain of nature) and culture in the strict sense (a set of social discourses with predominantly
distracting function, whose production and enunciation require technical aptitude).
Keywords: Utilitarian and distracting literature, hybridization of genres, pragmatic and hedonic
functions.
O LUGAR DA LITERATURA NO MBITO DA TEORIA SEMITICA DA CULTURA
RESUMO
Este trabalho discute como a literatura se insere no processo maior da cultura, partindo, de um lado, de
uma
concepo
ampla
de
literatura,
apoiada
nas
dicotomias
ficcional/no
ficcional
utilitria/distrativa, e, de outro, na teoria semitica da cultura de linha hedonista-funcionalista.

Objetiva-se demonstrar como as categorias literatura ficcional distrativa, literatura ficcional utilitria,
literatura no ficcional distrativa, literatura no ficcional utilitria, bem como as formas resultantes
prticas sociais e de seus subtipos e se articulam aos conceitos de cultura lato sensu (tudo o que se
14
ope ao domnio da natureza) e cultura stricto sensu (conjunto dos discursos sociais com funo
Pgina
de hibridismo dessas categorias, podem ser descritas por meio das funes pragmtica e hednica das
predominantemente distrativa, cuja produo e enunciao exigem aptido tcnica).

Palavras-chave: Literatura utilitria e distrativa, hibridismo de gneros, funes pragmtica
e hednica.
Brazilian Cultural Studies
v. 2, n. 1, p. 14 - 38 , Janeiro/Abril 2011
Observao o texto foi usado na atualizao do peridico
ISSN 2177-661X
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
2011
poetry, and so on. In addition, many consider
INTRODUCTION
that a play is not literature in the strict sense,

This
paper
discusses
literature,
but belongs to the realm of another art, the
understood in its broadest sense, falls within
drama (as well as a screenplay does not belong
the more general process of culture, both in its
to literature but to the cinema). It is also
broad
sense
(i.e.,
anthropological/sociological
how
in
its
considered that the chronicle is more akin to
definition,
as
journalism and, in some cases, to philosophy
opposed to the concept of nature) and in the
than to literature proper.
strict sense (which partially corresponds to the
On the other hand, it is common to use the
traditional concept of culture, as inherited from
term
the Greco-Roman tradition).
nonfiction literature, self-help literature,
literature
in
expressions
such
as
For this, we will first of all define what
medical literature, legal literature, etc.
comes to literature and culture (in both senses
Were it not so, there would be no reason why
of that) and then, based on the semiotic theory
study Caminhas Letter in Brazilian literature
of culture of hedonistic-functional line, explain
classes.1
the various literary phenomena, including those

resulting from hybridization of genres.
It can be seen how the boundaries are

fluid, and the task of setting limits or
definitions in this field is difficult. By the way,
divisions between the various genres of verbal
mean by literature in this work, given the high
manifestation, i.e., the hybridity of forms, is
polysemy of this word. Of its many meanings,
what ensures the great wealth of human
the most common is referred to the art of
experience in dealing with the word.
writing. Therefore, literature would be the art
This paper will define literature as the set
made out of words, the text with an aesthetic
of all the works published or publishable in
function, which includes prose fiction and
book form. There can be some embarrassment
poetry. In a narrow conception, literature would
in this definition when facing a book composed
be the prose fiction, as opposed to poetry. In
of images only, such as a photo album or a
this sense, a writer produces novels, short

stories, chronicles, even theatrical plays, but
the poetry is by the poet. This concept is
somewhat problematic, in that there are prose
poems, poetic prose, texts blending prose and
Caminhas Letter is considered to be the founding

document of Brazil. It was written by the scribe Pero
Vaz de Caminha, a member of the Portuguese fleet that
discovered Brazil in 1500, as soon as they came to land,
and sent back to Portugal, addressed to king Emmanuel
I, describing the new found land. This letter is also
considered the initial landmark of Brazilian literature.
1

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First of all, we should define what we
15
our goal here is to show that the lack of clear
1. What is literature
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2011
compilation of reproductions of paintings, as
described or narrated only what can be verified
well as in relation to a childrens book having
through research and documentation, but has
nothing but illustrations. Nevertheless, they are
introduced dialogues, portrayed persons and
border cases: the infant-addressed book does
environments or made comments that were a
not fail to be considered as childrens literature,
product of his imagination. This is what
and plastic art catalogues in general have some
distinguishes a historical novel from a history
text.
textbook.
In
this
latter,
only
what
is
Given this, literature will be herein each
documented is narrated; in that former, the
and every book, no matter whether fictional or
author lets his imagination fly, even allowing
non
himself not to be completely faithful to facts.
fictional,
whether
it
is
aimed
at
entertaining, educating, comforting, helping in
Fictional are also although they are not
practical tasks or any other finality that may be
literature painting, sculpture, dance, theater,
conceived of. It is necessary to remind as well
film, mime, because they all somehow simulate
that there is a full rich oral literature, be that of
reality, constituting what Aristotle called
the popular culture, be that of primitive
mimesis in his Poetics: everything that seems to
peoples, be the anecdotes and tales that
be, but is not, real. And, as will be seen in 3.2,
circulate by word of mouth. There are still the
is also fiction all that appears, that is, all that is
blogs, and the news and magazines reports.
created to stimulate our senses, like an abstract
These texts are not actually published in books,
painting or instrumental music.
but they can, at any time, be published
And why are books written? The main
(provided that there can be found in them some
reason is to fix on the material support that is
merit for publication, evidently). This is why
the paper the words that deserve to be
we speak of published or publishable works.
remembered and known by everyone, now and
is established in literature takes place between
deserves record because it brings benefit to
fiction and nonfiction. This division is followed
someone ends up, sooner or later, materialized
by editors, distributors, bookshops, newspaper
in a book and becoming, thus, available to
book-reviewers and critics, and therefore it will
enjoy.
The benefits that a book provides its
16
in the future. Therefore, every speech that
It is understood by fiction any work
readers can be of several types: entertain,
containing not documented elements. Even a
amuse, relax, raise awareness, make think,
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From the beginning, the great division that
romanticized version of a historical fact is
discomfort, teach, advise, persuade, clarify,
considered as fiction in that the author has not
remedy questions, raise doubts Anyway,
be kept here.

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2011
there are also books that bring more benefits
The main form of literary hybridism is
for those who write than to those who read
when a work meets the characteristics of more
them: a nasty joke says that the works of self-
than one of these categories.
help are so called because they are exactly for

helping out to enrich their authors. By the way,
2. Literature, art and culture
it is not known if anyone ever got rich by
As seen, literature can be fictional or non
reading self-help books; by writing them,
fictional, distracting or not distracting. The
instead
distracting fictional literature is the most
It is possible to divide all the functions that
widespread and popular form of literature, so
a book can play in two basic categories: the
that, when using in everyday language the word
utilitarian and distracting (see below, item 2.7).
literature pure and simple, this is the kind of
Hence,
non
literature that is referred to. And it is this kind
fictional, utilitarian or distracting. We have,
of literature that falls within the field of art. But
from the beginning, four basic types of
both the literature of artistic nature and the
literature, resulting from the articulation of
other types of works are part of a more general
these categories, as shown in Table 1.
process called culture. To understand how
literature may be fictional,
literature is linked to art and culture in general,

we must first of all define culture.
Table 1: The four types of literature

LITERATURE
DISTRACTING
UTILITARIAN
Utilitarian
literature
(novel,
short story, poetry)
Distracting
fictional
non
literature
(philosophical,
NON
aesthetical or critical
FICTIONAL
essay, popularization
of
science,
biography,
journalistic novel)
can mention the following:
(mythology,
religion,
some
culture is all that, both in humans and the
self-help books)
environment, is not an exclusive product of
Utilitarian
nature. This is called the anthropological
non
fictional
definition of culture and refers to the
literature
(technical,
famous opposition nature vs. nurture;
scientific,
Culture
juridical, school,
transforms, all that he adds to nature with
17
FICTIONAL
Among the many definitions of culture, we
literature
specialized
his transforming work. This definition is a
Pgina
Distracting fictional
2.1. What is culture?
fictional
books, manuals,
is
all
that
man
creates
or
result of the above;
self-help)
Culture is a complex set of behavior

patterns, beliefs, institutions and other spiritual
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2011
transmitted collectively
therefore the smarter he became. More
and characteristic of a society or a human
intelligence enabled the production of better
group. When it comes to Brazilian culture,
weapons, which increased even more the
corporate culture or pop culture, it is this
hunting productivity, and so the cycle restarted.
and material values
About 200,000 years ago, in Africa, appear
concept that we have in mind.

Although there are rudiments of culture in
anatomically
modern
humans,
or
Homo
other animal species, none of them presents the
sapiens. About 100,000 years later, this species
complexity found in Homo sapiens. Culture,
arrives in the Middle East and Europe, where it
symbolic thought, and articulate speech are the
meets
differential traits defining the human species.
Neanderthal man, another human species, both
The main vehicle of transmission of
the
Homo
neanderthalensis,
or
descendants of Homo erectus.
culture is verbal communication, which is only
Around 40,000 years ago, Homo sapiens
possible thanks to the existence of articulate
supplants Neanderthals and alone begins to
speech (i.e., having vocabulary and grammar).2
dominate Western Eurasia. The most likely

reasons for this supremacy and therefore the
extinction of Neanderthals is the emergence
The first hominid to have traces of culture
of symbolic thought and, consequently, its
was Australopithecus africanus, about three
expression by means of language, both verbal
million years ago, by chipping stones to
and nonverbal.
produce sharp instruments. Around this time,
Finally, approximately 15,000 years ago
there was a great drought in Africa, which led
civilization arises, whose first manifestations
hominids down the trees in search of food.
are the cave paintings of Lascaux and Niaux
ability to make weapons, Australopithecus

began to hunt and eat the flesh of large
(France), Altamira (Spain), and bone carvings,

like the Venus of Brassempouy.
Why were the first records of symbolic
mammals. This led to the development of the
thought
brain and, consequently, increased intelligence,
civilization exactly works of art? It is believed
starting a virtuous circle: the more he hunted
that such representations had a mystical-
and ate meat, the more his brain grew and
religious or superstitious purpose. But how did
art, belief in supernatural, rituals, come up?
It is customary to speak about animal language, but what

animals actually have is a protolanguage and not a language
proper. Indeed, the comunication of the animals has a basic
vocabulary, but does not have a grammar allowing to
combine words to form more complex statements and
thoughts.
and
the
first
manifestations
of
To understand this, let us resort to

Maslows theory of basic needs (1943), which

18
With the shortage of vegetables and cutting
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2.2. How has culture emerged?
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is summarized in the so-called Maslow pyramid
arrow created to hunt started to be used for
(Figure 1).
target
practice
as
training
or
mere
entertainment. Fishing, besides providing food,

has become a hobby. For the same reason,
Figure 1: Maslow pyramid
children fight a joke to measure forces, as well

as kicking a coconut might have been the
Personal fulfillment
Esteem
when striking the hollow trunk of the trees may

have given rise to music.
Celebrate a memorable hunt, honoring the
Self-esteem, confidence, conquest, respect

from and to others
best hunters, preserve the memory beyond
Love/
relationship
Friendship, family, sexual intimacy
death, fix the image of the hunt for ritual

Security of body, job, resources, morality,
Safety
Physiology
remote genesis of soccer, and the sound made
Morality, creativity,
spontaneity, troubleshooting, absence of
prejudice, acceptation of
facts
purposes may have been the probable reasons
family, health, property

Breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
for the creation of cave paintings. Over time,

legends were created about ancient deeds that
According to the author, humans have a

number of needs, belonging to several orders or
levels, and they only engage in meeting needs
of the next level when those of the previous
level have been met. Thus, the first kind of
need that we must meet is physiological, i.e., to
ensure the functioning of our body. Next, we
must ensure our physical survival and our body
and mental health. Only then we will seek love,
social
life,
job
satisfaction, leisure, and so on.
to
mythology
and
literature.
Therefore, the matrices of culture are myth,

dream, game, and ritual. These matrices give
birth to history, literature, art, philosophy,
science, sports, belief in supernatural, and
therefore religion.
Painting and sculpture mark the emergence
of art, whereas the narration of a story from
generation to generation gives rise to the myth.
As this narration was oral, it was easier to
memorize the story if it were in verse, which
All the tools, from the flint ax to the

computer, have been designed to meet the two
lowest levels of needs, i.e., have been created
to ease the pain in its broadest sense, that is,
to solve practical problems of life.
But once these needs were met, many tools
gives birth to literature and poetry.

Thus, culture is born to meet basic needs,
i.e., to get out of pain and go to a safe state. But
19
friendships,
rise
when already secure, one seeks to escape the
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acceptance,
gave
boredom
by
playing,
that
is,
recreational purposes in practical things.
have become toys. For example, the bow and

finding
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By studying the importance of play in

culture, Huizinga defines:
2011
democracy and not representative (which did

not prevent the emergence of politicians and
demagoguery). But Athens had only 60,000
Play is a voluntary activity or occupation
people, that is, free men, and eligible voters,
executed within certain fixed limits of time
the ones with the right to exercise power. There
and place, according to rules freely

accepted but absolutely binding, having its
were 400,000 non-citizens (slaves, women,
aim in itself and accompanied by a feeling
children and foreigners, including Greeks from
of tension, joy and the consciousness that
other cities), who could not participate in
it is different from ordinary life.
political decisions.
(Huizinga, 1980, p. 34).
Despite this highly exclusionary political

model, there was a concern to prepare citizens
For this author, the faculty of reasoning is
for the exercise of power. This preparation, or
what gives us the Homo sapiens dimension, the
education, called paideia, was in full training
manufacture of objects gives us a Homo faber
physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual of
dimension, but it is the playing games which

makes us Homo ludens (ibid, p. 5).
the citizen, or polites. For non-citizens was left

the banausia, i.e. the legwork.
In short, man is not the only animal to use

tools (there are birds and primates that
manufacture their own tools to get food) or to
impart knowledge to their peers, but perhaps
the only one to do it through language. Nor is
he the only animal that plays, but the only one
that plays to the delight of others.
Paideia was based on what the Greeks

called skhol (distraction), which originated
the
word
school
philosophical
and
included
rambling,
study,
religious
contemplation, sports and leisure. That is,

paideia endowed citizens of a refinement of
mind of one who need not work as he has
people who work for him.
back to ancient Greece, more specifically the

Athens of the fifth century
BC.
As we know,
this town was a polis, or city-state, governed by

a system called democracy. But the Athenian
democracy was different from ours, because
decisions about the city were taken at a meeting
directly by citizens. It was therefore a direct
Latin and means cultivation, care for the field

or cattle. This sense of cultivating the land
remains in the Romance languages until the
late Middle Ages.
In the sixteenth century, there arises a
metaphoric sense of culture that would be
fundamental to the Enlightenment philosophers
of the 18th century and resonates even today:

20
Our modern conception of culture dates
In its turn, the word culture comes from
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2.3. The evolution of the concept of culture
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2011
the culture as training and education of the
obligation) and the pursuit of pleasure (actions
spirit.
driven by the will desire or taste). Epicurus
In 1755, Jean-Jacques Rousseau published
advocates the pursuit of simple pleasures and
his book Discourse on the Origin and Basis of
the avoidance of refined and unattainable
Inequality Among Men, in which he deals with
pleasures.
culture, in the sense of civilization, as the major
How then do we define culture from the
factor in the corruption of the human being and
epicurean dichotomy? There is, first, the
puts forth the theory of the noble savage (Man
culture in its etymological sense, that is, the
is born good, it is civilization that corrupts
cultivation
him.).
ranching, cultivation of soybean or bacteria.
of
nature,
agriculture,
cattle
The 1798 edition of the Dictionary of the
Secondly, there is the cultivation of man, which
French Academy reinforces this notion of
is divided into a culture in its broadest sense
culture
For
(anthropological), which we call culture lato
Enlightenment thinkers, culture is the sum of
sensu and includes everything that does not
knowledge accumulated and communicated to
belong to the exclusive domain of nature, and
mankind throughout history, in sciences,
culture in a strict sense (traditional), which we
literature and art.
call culture stricto sensu and that may be the
as
opposed
to
nature.
By French influence also appears in the
cultivation of the body (the sport) and the
18th century German term Kultur with the
cultivation of the spirit (the free knowledge,
same metaphorical sense, in which the initial
aesthetic sensitivity).
capital denoted a high status in a model to be

followed by all societies.
It can be said that culture lato sensu is the

set:
Since then, kultur (with lowercase) shall be
of all that man creates or transforms;
any learned skill, anything that distinguishes
all he adds to nature;
man from nature, while Kultur (capitalized) is
all that, in the man himself, is not an
the spiritual refinement that includes the arts
exclusive product of the biological instinct;
and sciences.
everything that is not innate, but learned
According to
the Greek philosopher
Epicurus, human actions are driven by two

basic principles: avoidance of pain (actions
particular human community.

On the other hand, culture stricto sensu
should be understood as the set of activities:
driven by the duty, that is, by necessity or

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the objects and practices that characterize a
2.4. The two forms of culture
21
and transmitted through language;
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directed to the spirit, leisure, personal
2.5. Relations between culture, knowledge
enrichment
and education
(physical,
intellectual
or
spiritual) of human beings;
Many confuse culture with knowledge.
that are practiced as an end in itself and not
After all, an educated person is one who has
as a means to other ends;
accumulated enough knowledge. But in reality
motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and not
not every culture is knowledge. A love song or
by the need to solve problems.
an abstract painting is undeniably forms of
Systematizing the latter form of culture
culture, both in the broad sense and in the

strict.
within a framework, we have Table 2.
However,
what
knowledge,
what
information do they provide about the world?

Moreover, not every knowledge is culture.
Table 2: Culture stricto sensu

ACTIVITIES
EXAMPLES
Public
Literature,
conveyance
cinema,
utilitarian
purposes
of
causing
to
feel
Artistic
discourses
Sporting
racing,
The role of education is undoubtedly to
swimming,
tennis,
impart knowledge. But the knowledge imparted
etc.
by education is primarily a practical knowledge

lectures,
exhibitions
and
popularization
documentaries
discourses
scientific
of
popularization
with
Books and lectures on
causing
to
think
discourses
and
Humanistic
discourses
(manpower), that is, to ensure the survival of
Unlikely, the knowledge imparted by
philosophy, aesthetics
of
to form citizens first, and then professionals
individuals in society.
conveyance
purposes
is a cultural work in the strict sense, nor that a
Football,
Scientific
utilitarian
provides knowledge, but we cannot say that it
educated person.
performances, etc.
no
technology
person with great computer knowledge is an
comics,
Books,
Public
information
visual arts, fashion,
discourses
discourses
theater,
of
criticism,
culture, when it exists, is a free, uninterested

knowledge,
not
generally
applicable
to
biographies, thematic
everyday life (no one watches a theater play in
exhibitions,
order to acquire skills to be used in their work).
documentaries,
popularization
mythology
mystical systems
Therefore, culture does not form citizens,

of
and
because it is aimed at citizens already formed.
22
no
music,
handbook
If a teacher asks his students to read novels or
Pgina
with
go to art or science exhibitions, the goal here is

not cultural but educational: what the teacher
wants is to form citizens able to enjoy culture,
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2011
to think, to appreciate beauty, in a word, to
(utilitarian activities), and are directed to
have a critical sense, and not just docile and
society by someone who has a special aptitude
robotic manpower for the labor market. In
for practicing them. This definition includes
short, writers, poets, playwrights, painters,
perfectly all that we intuitively think of as the
sculptors, musicians, philosophers, scientists,
products of culture: novels, short stories,
thinkers do not create their discourses to be
poems, popular science books, philosophical,
used in the classroom (although they may be),
aesthetic and critical essays, story-books,
but to be experienced by the members of
biographies, memoirs, chronicles, art or science
society.
exhibitions, thematic exhibitions (for example,

on an artistic movement or a personality),
2.6. Characteristics of culture stricto sensu
music concerts, dance performances, theater,
A detailed explanation of what comes to
film, circus shows, popular scientific or
culture in the strict sense, within which are
philosophical lectures, architectural works of
located the arts and, more specifically, the
artistic
distracting literature (fiction and nonfiction),
performances, urban interventions, graffiti,
can be found in Bizzocchi (2003). However, its
music CDs and DVDs, movie DVDs, albums
characteristics can be summarized as follows:
of fine arts, comics, sports competitions,
value,
landscaping
works,
all cultural practices are discourses, i.e. acts
lectures with humanistic content (for example,
of communication and symbolic goods;
a writer talking about his work, a religious or a
they are public activities, directed to society
religion expert explaining publicly a doctrine
as a whole, and freely accessible to all
not to be confused with religious preaching),
citizens;
TV
they are not utilitarian activities;
philosophical or humanistic topics, folklore,
they are an end in themselves and not a
carnival, festivals and celebrations, and so on.
means to other ends;
documentaries
on
scientific,
artistic,
they serve primarily for pleasure, in the
surprising to many, that many artistic events
broadest sense of the word;
regarded as vulgar, popularesque or tacky as
they differ from the simple entertainment
rap, hip-hop, porn films, soap operas and others
because they require an innate talent and,
belong to culture as much as the highest forms
23
above all, mastery of a specific technique,
of art. This is because we are starting from an
acquired by learning.
objective
Pgina
There follows from this definition the fact,
In short, culture is the set of activities that
judgments of fact and not on value judgments,
Alves (2004) calls toys, as opposed to tools
which,
concept
of
incidentally,

culture,
have
no
based
on
scientific
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2011
relevance. The belief widespread among
they are legitimately part of the culture lato
intellectuals that classical music is culture,
sensu.
but popular one is not, results from a subjective

and biased view of someone who stands above
2.7.
good and evil, bringing his personal opinion to
functions
The
pragmatic
and
the
hedonic
the status of ultimate truth. The preference for
The pragmatic or utilitarian function
this or that artist is a mere matter of taste and
(which, following the happy denomination of
not a scientific fact.
Rubem Alves, op. cit., we can call tool-
on prevention of diseases may have scientific
that is, solving problems, making life easier.

However,
the
hedonic
or
distracting
content, but is not culture. Someone who writes
function (lets call it toy-function) has the goal
poems or paints pictures and never exposes or
of causing to have pleasure, or amusing,
publishes them is not doing culture; someone
entertaining, exciting.
who sings at birthday parties but has never
The pragmatic function is divided into
made a presentation in a concert hall or a
seven types, namely:
record does not produce culture either. It is
1. Vital function (making able to be = making
being
life possible): maintenance, preservation
discursive, must be public and distracting.
and restoration of life and health, protection
Furthermore, it requires specific competence to
against threats to life and physical integrity,
be made: it is what distinguishes it from pure
ensuring the survival, relief of physical
entertainment, like certain reality shows and
pain, protection, security: food, medicine,
TV competitions, which are discursive, public
drugs, police, military, etc. Examples of
and distracting, but do not require from the
verbal
participants any innate ability or technique that
function are the interjections Watch out!
may have taken years of learning and
and Help! and bottles of shipwreck.
clear,
then,
that
culture,
besides
improvement. We will explain what the

specific competence is later on, in 2.8.
At the same time, many utilitarian
discourse
endowed
with
this
2. Motivational function (causing to want to

be = motivating, supporting): relief of stress
and emotional pain, support, comfort,
activities, such as medicine and law, require a
motivation:
psychotherapy,
skill, but either are not discursive, or are not
motivational speeches, self-help books,
public, or are not distracting, so they are not
Seicho-No-Ie calendars, etc.
part of the culture stricto sensu even though

counseling,
24
the culture, on the other hand, a book or lecture
function) consists of causing not to have pain,
Pgina
But, if all events listed above are part of
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2011
3. Instrumental function (making able to do =
prevention of pain and the achievement of
helping): facilitating or enabling tasks,
the other functions: informative journalism,
reduction of stress, increase in comfort and
public utility reports, useful information,
productivity:
technology,
signposts, road signs, etc.
appliances,
industry,
machinery,
vehicles,
7. Persuasive function (causing to want [not]
utensils,
to do = inducing): induction of action or
furniture, general services, etc. (Note: even
stance, formation of opinion: politics,
the musical instruments and toys fall into
advertising, economic analysis, advice,
this category because they are the means,
opinionated
instruments, not ends.) An example of text
engaged literature, etc. (Note: this function
with instrumental function is the password
can provide a utility to the receiver or the
to an account.
sender itself, as in advertising, that serves
communication
facilities,
4. Normative function (causing to have [not]
journalism,
pamphlet
or
the advertiser rather than the audience.)
for the implementation of human activities
types: aesthetic (or poetic), ludic (or dramatic),
in order to preserve rights, maintain order
epistemic (or noetic) and mystical (or magical).
and ensure the smooth functioning of
The latter is the only one that cannot be
systems: laws, standards of conduct, ethics,
produced directly by discourse, since it
morals, regulations, statutes, contracts,
corresponds to the delight of mystic trance, the
sporting rules, etc.
state of grace. Many mystics reach this state,
5. Instructive function (causing to know how
called epiphany, nirvana, totalizing state,
to do = teaching, instructing): transmission
expanded consciousness and many other
of skills for social life, performing tasks
denominations,
and
instruction
meditation, ingestion of hallucinogens and even
manuals, recipes, advice, etc. (Note: even
strong sensory stimuli (bright lights flashing,
teaching hedonic practices, such as piano
repetitive and very loud sound). This trance
playing, enter this function.) The most
state can be experienced in a religious cult or a
perfect examples of this function are the
rock concert, but in all cases the stimuli come
textbooks and workbooks, but even the
from one of the other three hedonic functions.
25
The hedonic function is divided into four
Kama Sutra has an instructive function.
Especially in the literature, is the mystical
Pgina
to do = disciplining): establishment of rules
survival:
education,
6. Informative function (causing to know in

order to enable = informing, warning):
transmission
of
information
for
the
by
means
of
fasting,
function unless proven otherwise absent.

Consider then the aesthetic, ludic and
epistemic functions.

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2011
1. Aesthetic function (causing pleasure by
of conflict, i.e. they support a character (or
means of sensations): in the aesthetic
a pilot, or their team of devotion).
function, stimuli are sensory and produce
Therefore, the ludic discourse awakens
the pleasure of the senses. Its validation
feelings of love and hatred, and produces a
criterion is the opposition beautiful vs.
sentimental pleasure, or pleasure of the
ugly: what causes pleasure are pleasant
heart.
visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory and/or
opposition winning vs. losing.
gustatory stimuli. Therefore, the discourse
The ludic, verbal or nonverbal, discourse is
endowed with this function searches for
narrative because it always tells a story
beauty and provides pleasure by exhibiting
made
beauty.
chronological order (the successive scenes
The discourses, both verbal and nonverbal,
of a play, the moves of a game, etc.), which
whose major function is aesthetical tend to
narrates the attempt to conquer an object of
be
value (the beloved, power, victory, and so
descriptive,
as
lyrical
poem
Its
validation
up
of
criterion
moves
is
presented
the
in
describing images or moods, or a picture
on).
portraying a landscape, an environment, a
The basis of the ludic pleasure is in the
person, a scene or an abstract image.
surprise effect, the unexpected outcome, be
2. Ludic function (causing pleasure by means
of a film, a race or an anecdote. It is the
of feelings): this function starts from the
ludus, or game, which Huizinga (op. cit.)
existence of a conflict that unfolds in time
speaks about.
struggle of good against evil (e.g. police vs.
means of thoughts): the epistemic function
villain), a love story (boy trying to win the
is that which makes one get to know and
girls heart), a legal dispute (plots like
think. It is based on the principle of
Kramer vs. Kramer, by Avery Corman, or
satisfaction of curiosity and represents the
QB VII, by Leon Uris) or a sports
pleasure of the mind. It is the discourse of
competition (a football match, a race car).
the pursuit of knowledge, or search for
In all these cases, there is the search for a
truth, which can be achieved through
solution to a fictitious conflict, and the
research
pleasure of the recipients of the discourse
reflection.
(reader,
therefore the true vs. false opposition.
spectator)
is
the
expectation
(scientific,
Its
journalistic)
validation
criterion
and
26
3. Epistemic function (causing pleasure by
is
Pgina
and can have several outcomes. The
regarding the outcome, which intensifies as
The epistemic pleasure comes from the
they get identified with one of the subjects
revelation of what one wants to know,

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2011
whether the origin of the universe, the
beholds it to try to understand it and not
biography of a personality or gossip about
necessarily to change it. (Who wants to make a
the private life of show business celebrities.
revolution should write a manifesto, not a novel
It is generally linked to dissertational
or an essay.) Thus, culture provides subsidies
discourses, as essays, chronicles, lectures
for other practices to change the world,
on popular science, etc.
whereas it only intends to show the reality as it
discourse
is
partly
is or could be.
informative (causing to know to give
The four hedonic functions may also be
pleasure), partly persuasive (causing to
related to the four cognitive processes of the
believe to give pleasure). For example,
human mind, or functions of consciousness
books on the theory of evolution as the
(sensation, intuition, reason and emotion),
Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin, or
described by Jung (1971). The aesthetic
The Greatest Show on Earth, by Richard
function would then be predominantly linked to
Dawkins, present facts and, at the same
sensation, the ludic function to emotion, the
time, try to use them as arguments in favor
epistemic one to reason, and the mystical to
of a thesis. Some (e.g., biographies, book-
intuition.
reports) are predominantly informational,
There is a relationship between the four
whereas others (scientific and philosophical
cognitive processes above, the four major
essays) are predominantly persuasive. In
systems of explanation of the world (art,
any case, it is good to distinguish between
science, philosophy and religion)3 and the four
information and persuasion in the epistemic
basic types of pleasure (aesthetic, ludic,
function with the pragmatic persuasive and
epistemic and mystical), which in their turn
informative
the
refer to the four modes of perception of reality
epistemic function is not intended to be
the four eyes defined by St. Bonaventure:
useful but enjoyable.
the eye of flesh, the eye of the heart, the eye of
The
functions,
persuasive
because
epistemic
discourse
the mind, and the eye of the spirit.
(support of a thesis) corresponds to the
Thus, visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory
instance of artistic authorship, while the
and gustatory sensations, as well as the
informative one corresponds to the instance

3
of interpretation.
Culture is a way or rather, a set of ways
of
understanding
the
world.
While
the
utilitarian activities act on reality, culture
According to Weil et al (1993, p. 18-19), science results of

the combination between sensation (observation of reality)
and reason (logical-mathematical thought); art, of the
relationship between sensation and emotion; philosophy, the
joint between intuition (the doxa of the philosophers) and
reason; and religion, the relationship between intuition
(religious enlightenment) and emotion.

27
epistemic
Pgina
Every
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2011
suggestion of these sensations produced by
Finally, the pleasure of the mystic trance,
words in a descriptive text, provide a pleasure
the state of grace, that epiphany experienced by
that, being sensory, is primarily organic (and
St. Teresa of Avila or by yogis and monks is
hence we can say that it is carnal and sensual).
the pleasure of the spirit. As mentioned earlier,
Therefore, the aesthetic function produces the
it is the only kind of pleasure that cannot be
pleasure of flesh.
induced directly by discourse, for it is always a
The ludic function suggests a conflict

between subjects in search of the same value
object. This dispute arouses emotions of love
corollary of some other types of pleasure.

Systematizing the hedonic functions, we
have Table 3.
and hate, and constant expectations regarding

the next steps of the narrative. (That is why
Table 3: Hedonic functions
soap operas are divided into episodes, which
FUNC
TYPE
COGN
TYPE
FOUN
OBJ
always end in dramatic climax, leaving the
TION
OF
ITIVE
OF
DING
ECT
resolution to the next episode.) It is what is
STIM
PROCE
PLEA
OPPOS
OF
technically called the polemic structure of the
ULUS
SS
SURE
ITION
SEAR
discourse. Given the positive or negative
CH
identification of the audience with each of the
AEST
sensat sensati
of the beautif
subjects at stake and also their permanent
HETIC
ions
flesh
on
expectation for the outcome, it can be said that

the ludic function is addressed to the heart.
ul vs. y
ugly
LUDIC feelin
That is why the rooter refers to his team as my
gs
emotio of the winnin

n
heart
hearts team (and not my body, mind,

spirit).
beaut
victo
x ry
losing
EPIST
thoug
EMIC
hts
mind
means of information and reflection. So it
MYST
sensat intuiti
of the individ pleni
makes get to know and often makes think. The
ICAL
ions
spirit
The epistemic function causes pleasure by
reason
on
pleasure of knowing applies both to reading a
of the true x truth

false
ual
x tude
All
For example, in the soap opera Caminho
as scholarship, but simply as information. In
das ndias, exhibited in 2009 on the main
both cases, the cognitive process activated is
Brazilian television network (Globo TV),
thought, which is why we can say that the

epistemic pleasure is the pleasure of the mind.
Pgina
Therefore, knowledge must not be understood
28
book about science and a gossip magazine.
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whose theme was the life of Indians in Brazil,

we find the following functions:
aesthetic
function
in
the
soundtrack,
2011
Table 4: Natural and cultural activities

Culture
Hedonic
Culture
Hedonic
Causing
Sciences
lato
activities
stricto
public
to think
Humanities
sensu
sensu
activities
Causing
Arts
dances, the costumes, the scenery, the
that
to feel
Sports
landscapes of Rio de Janeiro, India and
require
skills
Dubai, and the beauty of the actors and
and
actresses;
learning
ludic function in the plot and its various

conflicts;
Non-
Hedonic activities, public or not,
cultural
that do not require learning or skill:
entertainment
singing in the shower, collecting,
epistemic function in spreading the Indian
hobbies, reality shows, etc.
culture and also in implicit criticism of the
Pragmatic
Technical
Pragmatic activities that require
Hindu cultural values, shown as backward
activities
activities
specific expertise, from the menial

to
under the Western point of view;
the
university:
medicine,
carpentry, etc.
informative function in clarifying about
Ordinary
Pragmatic activities that do not
schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, as
activities
require specific skills: writing,

driving, having lunch, talking,
a character was schizophrenic;
bathing, etc.
motivational function in encouraging those
Nature
All that is not human creation
who suffer from mental illness;

persuasive
pragmatic
function
in
the
Focusing
now
exclusively
distracting
merchandising of a bank and a cosmetics
activities (as if we gave a close in the first rows
brand, discreetly inserted in some episodes.
of Table 4), we have Table 5.
Placing into a table all the objects of our

reality and all human activities, we have the
Pgina
29
situation shown in Table 4.

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stricto sensu: what is good for nothing is what
Table 5: Distracting activities

Culture stricto
Causing
Sciences:
books,
sensu
to think
lectures, documentaries and

exhibitions
of
articles,
scientific
dissemination.
Humanities:
philosophical,
really makes our life beautiful.

Therefore, culture in the strict sense is the
public conveyance, without utilitarian ends, of
discourses created with specific competence to
aesthetic or critical essays,
make one think and/or feel. That is where the
journalistic books, biographies,
distracting literature, fictional or not, fits.
journalistic
exhibitions,
lectures on literature, religion

or mythology, etc.
2.8. The issue of the specific competence in

culture
Causing
Arts: literary fiction, comics,
to feel
art exhibitions, music CDs,
Unlike the non-cultural entertainment, and
DVDs and shows, dance and
similarly to technical activities, culture stricto
opera performances, drama
sensu requires specific skills to be performed.
(cinema, theater, TV), etc.

Sports: public exhibition of
sports competitions
This means that the creator of culture, be he an

artist, intellectual, athlete, journalist, etc., must
Non-cultural
Competitions, talk shows, beauty contests,
have a special ability to exercise his practice
entertainment
gambling, hobbies, animal baiting or
(what we could call talent or gift), as well as a
racings, variety magazines, collecting,
working method resulting of learning, formal
tourism, recreation, etc.
or informal (including even self-teaching),

usually long, complex and, above all, intended
makes us human, it is what distinguishes us

from the rest of nature. Indeed, the technique
only to adepts. Therefore, the specific skills

demanded by culture differ from generic skills
required for everyday tasks such as reading,
writing, cooking, etc.
(which we can identify to technology) has

allowed us to dominate nature. And animals, as
it is known today, also have technique and
transmit it by teaching their peers. The use of
intelligence to survive is not therefore uniquely
human. But only man has been able to use the
intelligence to play. So what makes us truly
human is not culture lato sensu, but culture
The use of a specific competence includes

the mobilization of skills, commonly called
talents, which, in fact, are scientifically called
multiple intelligences (Gardner, 2011). There
are
nine
kinds
linguistic,
of
musical,
intrapersonal,
intelligence:
spatial,
interpersonal,
logical,
30
all that is learned. We can say that it is what
motor,
Pgina
Therefore, culture in its broadest sense is
naturalist
and
existential. There is also talk in emotional

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2011
intelligence, a sort of combination of intra and
Table 6: Main intelligences involved in
interpersonal intelligences (Goleman, 1996).
cultural practices
Although all or nearly all of them are
TYPE
ACTIVITY
ABILITY/SKILL
involved in most human activities, even the

simplest, culture requires in a high degree some
of them. For reasons of space, we summarize in
DE
ARTISTIC
Creativity
CREATION
(ability
(idealizing
Table 6 the main intelligences involved in
picture, writing a
achieving cultural practices.
play,
composing
music)
TYPE
OF
INTELLIGENCE
to
idealize)
Emotional
Sensitivity
(aesthetic sense)
ARTISTIC
PERFORMANCE
(picture
painting,
theater or music
playing)
COMPARISON
Dexterity
SPORTS
(mastery
(gymnastics,
of
Motor
skill)
athletics, running,
etc.).
CONFRONTATION
SPORTS
(games,
wrestling)
Strategy (vision
of the future)
Research
(observation
SCIENCES
AND
HUMANITIES
of
reality)
Logical
Reflection
(interpretation of
reality)
3. Genres and social discourses

Human communication can be direct or
mediated. It is mediated when using a medium,
Pgina
confrontation sports, cf. Bizzocchi, 2003.
31
Note: for the definition of comparison and
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2011
or media, to convey the message. The paper of
and duration of the communication, and
a letter, a microphone, a telephone, the mass
gives
media
participants.
(newspapers,
magazines,
books,
the
right
to
speak
to
other
billboards, radio, TV, internet) are all kinds of
Corporate communication: is similar to the
media. When communication takes place
previous level, but now the participants are
without the support of media, such as a
not necessarily together, in real time, but
dialogue face to face, we say that it is direct.
the communication is addressed to all
The communication is also divided into
members of a corporation, whether students
levels according to the number and nature of
of a school, employees of a company,
the participants and the hierarchy established
practitioners of a particular area, customers
between them. The levels of communication
of a bank, and so on. Meetings, newsletters,
are as follows:
bulletin
boards,
intranet,
journals,
Intrapersonal communication: it is the
conferences and symposia, direct mail, are
communication of the subject to himself, in
all examples of corporate communications.
an inner dialogue that is usually silent, but
Social communication: is that which is
can sometimes occur in a loud voice
accessible to every citizen, regardless of
when someone talks alone or to himself.
addressing to this or that segment of the
Interpersonal
the
public. Therefore, this communication is
dialogue between two or more people in
intended to society as a whole. It is public
which everyone has an equal right to speak
and thus everyone can, in theory, be
and listen, and no one controls the process.
recipients of it, as with newspapers, TV,
This is what happens in a chat between
public events (concerts, football matches,
friends. The number of participants in this
lectures at bookstores), etc. The social
level of communication is never more than
communication is also known as mass
five or six people; with larger amounts, a
communication. Its discourses are called
schism occurs, i.e., the group divides into
social, public or mass discourses.
two or more, each with its subject.
The intra and interpersonal levels are not
is
the
hierarchical; others have hierarchy (someone is
communication in which one speaks to a
predominantly
are
32
communication:
is
group of people, as a class or meeting. In
predominantly recipients). At all levels, except
this case, someone (the teacher, the leader
for the social, the recipient is a closed and
Pgina
Group
communication:
of the staff) presides the communication: it
determined set of people. This means that
is he who determines the subject, location,
anyone who was not invited or allowed to
sender

and
others
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be
part
of
the
Table 7: Communication levels
communication. The social communication,

instead, presupposes an open and indeterminate
COMMUNI
EXAMPLES
OF DIRECT
MEDIATED
COMMUNIC
LEVEL
RECIPIE
HIERAR
COMMUNIC
participate, and one cannot know the identity
Systematizing, we have Table 7.
TYPE OF
NCE OF
ATION
nor the exact amount of recipients.
PRESE
OF
CATION
set of people as a recipient: anyone can
EXAMPLES
NT
CHY
ATION
INTRAPERS
Thought,
dream,
ONAL
soliloquy
Closed
Calendar,
No
diary
on,
Phone call,
medical
letter,
consultatio
mail
e-
Closed
No
ONAL
meeting
GROUP
attendance,
closed
lecture
and
determin
ed
n
Classroom,
determin
ed
Conversati
INTERPERS
and
E-learning,
meeting by
videoconfe
Closed
Yes
rence
and
determin
ed
Intranet,
CORPORAT
Assembly,
congress,
symposium
Closed
newsletter,
bulletin
board,
Yes
and
determin
ed
circular,
journal
SOCIAL
Play,
Radio, TV,
concert,
internet,
live
book,
football,
magazine,
open
newspaper,
lecture
CD, DVD
Open
Yes
and
indeterm
inate
At all levels of communication, there are

different genres. Genre is the set of discourses
(i.e., verbal or nonverbal texts) that have
common characteristics such as structure,
vocabulary, functions, sender, recipient and
modal
structure.
For
example,
we
can
intuitively distinguish a bull of medicine, a

33
cannot
2011
Pgina
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newspaper, a recipe, a prayer, a petition, a
and entertainment have more hedonic nature.
letter, etc., because each of these types of text
We must therefore recognize the existence of
has an internal organization, a purpose, a kind
two types of journalism, the utilitarian and the
of vocabulary and syntactic construct that
distracting, although in practice they often
individualizes and distinguishes them from
mingle. Even so, they have different modal
each other.
structures.
In Table 7, we see discourses of different

genres, direct or mediated, belonging to
The modal structure of the utilitarian

journalism is:
different levels of communication. What

distinguishes above all one genre from another
cause to know
to enable to do/be/want
[inform]
is the so-called modal structure of the

discourse, a kind of logical sentence that
describes, by using modals, what that discourse
does, who the intended audience is and what
effect it wants to have on its recipient.
We will detail the modal structure of some
types of discourse that usually appear as
literature. They are the journalistic, artistic
(within which is the distracting fictional
literature),
self-help,
technical-scientific,
pedagogical and humanistic discourses.
3.1. The journalistic discourse
[confer citizenship]
cause to believe
to cause (not) to do
have pain
[form opinion]
[persuade]
[guide]
The reading of this structure tells us that

a public utility journalistic text reports on the
reality to ensure the right to citizenship and
shapes opinion to persuade citizens to take
action. And it does all this to provide a service
utility to guide people.
Whereas the distracting journalism (which
is part of culture stricto sensu) has the
following structure:
Cause to know
Journalists investigate and comment on

facts of reality that impact peoples lives. But
to cause not to
to
[inform]
cause to believe
[form opinion]
cause pleasure
[entertain]
to
cause to want (not) to do

[persuade, criticize]
The distracting journalism also informs
others is curious, interesting and important to
and forms an opinion, only this time to
our training, but not essential. While news and
entertain the public and also to stimulate a
analysis on politics, economy and current
critical view.
affairs carry predominantly utilitarian function,
A journalistic text that is both distracting
biographies of personalities, books reporting on
and utilitarian has a structure resulting from the
past events, gossip columns and reviews of arts
merger of the two above. Still, one of the two

Pgina
crucial for life in society, the knowledge of
34
while the knowledge of some of these facts is
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functions will be the primary and another
2011
cause to want to be
[motivate]
secondary.
cause to want to do
to cause not to have pain
[persuade]
[solve problems]
cause to know how to do
3.2. The artistic discourses
[teach]
Art creates a fiction that looks real

(Aristotles mimesis) and appears to the senses
3.4. The technical and scientific discourses
(through sensory stimuli) to entertain and thrill.
Scientific and specialized works such as
It also often defends ideas, values and flags,
books on medicine, engineering, law and
and criticizes reality in order to persuade the
administration,
audience. Although engaged art does this in a
dissertations, are utilitarian texts and, indeed,
more explicit way, many works of art and
fit better in the corporate communication than
highly
in social.
persuasive. That is why, under authoritarian
The
particularly
literary
are
also
as
well
academic
as
theses
discourse
and
produces
regimes, they pass through the sieve of
knowledge that will be relayed through
censorship.
education,
will
serve
as
source
for
bibliographical research and will generate new
Its structure is:
technology, all to solve practical problems of

cause to appear
to
[fiction]
cause to believe
cause pleasure
human
beings,
in
health,
economy,
[entertain, thrill]
to
[form an opinion]

transportation, communications, etc. Thus we

have:
3.3. The discourses of self-help

[education]
Self-help and self-development books and

cause to know
lectures aim at motivating, persuading and also
to
[produce knowledge]
cause to make knowledge

[research feedback]
enable to do
teaching (how to make money, sell more, gain
[technology]
partners, etc.) to relieve emotional or financial

pain of their target audience, i.e., help them
3.5. The pedagogical discourses
ultimately, pedagogical. In this sense, self-help

books and even the aforementioned Kama
Sutra have didactic purpose to some extent. But
the pedagogical works proper are teaching

Pgina
Thus we have the structure:
35
Every discourse that teaches something is,
solve their problems.
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2011
textbooks, handouts, technical manuals and the

cause to know
like.
cause to think to cause
pleasure
They all give competence, i.e. ability to

perform certain tasks; in addition, the textbooks
for basic education also confer citizenship, as
[inform]
to
[intellectually
entertain]
cause to believe
[form an opinion]
they help to train future citizens. These texts

are mainly utilitarian, since they aim to solve
The distracting literature lies mainly in the
some problem (ensuring social harmony,
artistic and humanistic genres. Its main
survival, employability, allow the execution of
function is always the hedonic function, which
tasks that require special skills, and so on).
may be aesthetic, ludic and/or epistemic. The
Then we have:
persuasive function is not always present and is

never the principal.

[give competence]
do
cause to know
to enable to
to cause not
be
to have pain
[ensure life in society]
4. Interfaces and interferences between

discourses
want
[inform]
One of the main reasons for the occurrence
[confer citizenship]
of hybridization between literary genres is the

existence of interfaces between discourses. The
3.6. The humanistic discourses

The humanities (not to be confused with
interfaces
can
be
of
three
types:
the social sciences, that are sciences) include
supermodalization, application and likeness
philosophy, aesthetics, criticism and even
(Bizzocchi, 2003, p. 147). It is a common
scientific publishing. Therefore, a book of
phenomenon among discourses, so that it is
popularization of science, even when written
very difficult to find any discourse that does
by a scientist, can be considered a humanistic
not present this type of relationship with other
work. (Strictly speaking, story-books for
discourses.
entertainment purposes can too.)

transmits
even natural fact in the discursive activity,
knowledge, sometimes the result of research, as
there are cases where it produces a pernicious
in the case of science and journalism, and
type of interface: when the issuer of a particular
36
produces reflections on reality; therefore, aims
genre of discourse intentionally establishes an
to inform and form an opinion to cause the
interface with another genre without giving
Pgina
The
humanistic
However, if the interface is a common and
literature
pleasure of the intellect and also to persuade,
notice of this fact to the recipient. This is in
i.e. to promote a critical view. Its structure is:
general in order to manipulate the recipient. In

ISSN 2177-661X
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
Some examples of hybrid literary works
this case, the interface becomes an interference

are
of a discourse in another.
2011
the
chronicle,
the
novel-report,
For example, if a television commercial
metalinguistic fiction, literary criticism, the
uses artistic elements (actors, music, visual
philosophical and the scientific novel (which
effects, etc.) to persuade the audience to
should not be confused with the science fiction
consume a product, we have a legitimate
novel, which is also a hybrid genre).
interface between art and advertising, since it is
Hybridity, when well done, especially
clear to the public since the beginning that it is
when relevant to the nature of the work, only
an advertisement. Now the inclusion of
tends to enrich it. So much so that many of the
merchandising
great classics of literature contain hybrid
within
soap
opera
or
subliminal advertising in movies is a covert
elements.
often
On the other hand, sloppy or forced
mischaracterizes the artistic content of the work
hybridity, in which the author wishes to
and tries to induce to consumption an audience
demonstrate his virtuosity more than to please
that is not aware of being targeted by
the reader, as well as malicious interference,
advertising. One might even say that this public
which aims to manipulate the reader, are
is being harmed in some way, since it paid to
impoverishing features of the text. Much of the
receive entertainment and culture and is
literature devoid of content, that does not merit
receiving disguised advertising.
being considered as culture, results of bad
form
of
advertising,
which
hybridity and the ill-disguised bad faith of the

author, whose ideological or financial purpose
5. Hybrid types of literature

We have seen that the hybridization occurs
overlaps the pursuit of quality and respect to
when there is a symbiosis between genres. We
the public. These include many self-help books
can have the fusion of two genres of distracting
(although there are good books in this genre)
fictional literature, as the romantic comedy,
and the books of pseudoscience, like certain
which
works of ufology.
mixes
love
and
humour,
the
tragicomedy, that is comic and tragic at the
comedy. We can also have the fusion of genres
37
belonging to different categories, such as
Pgina
same time, or the blending of thriller and
fiction
and
nonfiction,
distracting
and
utilitarian literature, and so on.

ISSN 2177-661X
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
CONCLUSION
2011
REFERENCES
The concept of literature is very broad and
Alves, R. (2004). A caixa de brinquedos [The
covers almost the entire human experience.
toy box]. Folha de S. Paulo, 27/07/2004.
Therefore, it is directly linked to the notion of
Newspaper article.
culture, which is why the semiotic theory of

culture is a
good tool for study and
understanding of the literary phenomenon. We
Aristotle
(1996).
Poetics.
Translated
by
Malcolm Heath. London: Penguin Classics.
seeked to approach this phenomenon from the

point of view of one aspect of cultural
Bizzocchi, A. (2003). Anatomia da Cultura:
semiotics,
hedonistic-functionalist
Uma Nova Viso sobre Cincia, Arte, Religio,
orientation. Based on the concepts of culture
Esporte e Tcnica [Anatomy of Culture: A
lato and stricto sensu and the various types of
New View on Science, Art, Religion, Sports
hedonic and pragmatic function, we tried to
and Technique]. So Paulo: Palas Athena.
the
show how all literary genres, fictional or not,

fall into the categories generated by this model.
Gardner, H. (2011). Frames of Mind: The
Moreover, we also showed the hybridization of
Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York:
literary forms, a process that gives productivity
Basic Books.
and vitality to literary praxis, as a result of the

intersection and overlapping of genres that we
Goleman, D. (1996). Emotional Intelligence:
can call canonical.
Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. New York:
In
summary,
this
study
aimed
to
Bantam Books.
demonstrate the ability to understand and

describe scientifically a manifestation of the
Huizinga, J. (1980). Homo Ludens: A Study of
human spirit that usually escapes the theories,
the
sometimes
Routledge & Kegan Paul.
giving
rise
to
subjectivist
Play-Element
in
Culture.
London:
Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types.
practical
Collected Works, v. 6. Princeton: Princeton
applications
resulting therefrom.
of
the
knowledge
University Press.
Maslow, A. H. A theory of human motivation.

Psychological Review, 50, 370-396.
Pgina
object and, consequently, for the proposition of
38
speculation of little value for the study of this
ISSN 2177-661X
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi
2011
publicado originalmente em portugus sob o ttulo O
Weil, P.; DAmbrosio, U.; Crema, R. (1993).

Rumo
Nova
Transdisciplinaridade:
Sistemas Abertos de Conhecimento [Towards
lugar da literatura no mbito da teoria semitica da

cultura
em
SIMES,
D.
(org.)
Dilogos
Intersemiticos. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Dialogarts,

2011.
the New Transdisciplinarity: Open Systems of

Knowledge]. So Paulo: Summus.
Sobre o Autor:
Artigo Recebido em : 19/09/2012.
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi, Doutor em Semitica e Lingustica
Aceito em: 10/10/2012.
Geral pela Universidade de So Paulo, com psdoutorado pela Universidade do Estado do Rio de
Janeiro sob a superviso da Prof. Dr. Darcilia Marindir
Pinto Simes, membro dos grupo de pesquisas
SELEPROT e GMHP, e colunista da revista Lngua
Portuguesa. Website: www.aldobizzocchi.com.br.
Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi, PhD in Semiotics and General

Linguistics at the University of So Paulo, with postdoctorate from the State University of Rio de Janeiro
under the supervision of Prof. Darcilia Marindir Pinto
Simes, PhD; member of SELEPROT and GMHP
research groups, and columnist of Brazilian monthly
magazine
Lngua
Portuguesa.
Website:
www.aldobizzocchi.com.br.
Endereo para correspondncia:

Rua Dr. Albino Rodrigues de Alvarenga, 80 Butant
05359-080 So Paulo SP
Telefone/fax: (11) 3733-5477
aldo@aldobizzocchi.com.br
aldobizzocchi@superig.com.br
Artigo apresentado no painel temtico Semitica,

Comunicao, Cultura e Espetculo do III Colquio de
Semitica, Rio de Janeiro, novembro de 2010, e

Pgina
E-mails:
39
Celular: (11) 99985-5504

The Place of Literature in The Scope-Libre

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THE PLACE OF LITERATURE IN THE SCOPE OF THE SEMIOTIC THEORY OF

O LUGAR DA LITERATURA NO MBITO DA TEORIA SEMITICA DA CULTURA

utilitria/distrativa, e, de outro, na teoria semitica da cultura de linha hedonista-funcionalista.

predominantemente distrativa, cuja produo e enunciao exigem aptido tcnica).

Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi

poetry, and so on. In addition, many consider

that a play is not literature in the strict sense,

but belongs to the realm of another art, the

understood in its broadest sense, falls within

drama (as well as a screenplay does not belong

the more general process of culture, both in its

to literature but to the cinema). It is also

considered that the chronicle is more akin to

journalism and, in some cases, to philosophy

opposed to the concept of nature) and in the

than to literature proper.

strict sense (which partially corresponds to the

On the other hand, it is common to use the

traditional concept of culture, as inherited from

the Greco-Roman tradition).

nonfiction literature, self-help literature,

For this, we will first of all define what

medical literature, legal literature, etc.

comes to literature and culture (in both senses

Were it not so, there would be no reason why

of that) and then, based on the semiotic theory

study Caminhas Letter in Brazilian literature

of culture of hedonistic-functional line, explain

the various literary phenomena, including those

It can be seen how the boundaries are

divisions between the various genres of verbal

mean by literature in this work, given the high

manifestation, i.e., the hybridity of forms, is

polysemy of this word. Of its many meanings,

what ensures the great wealth of human

the most common is referred to the art of

experience in dealing with the word.

writing. Therefore, literature would be the art

This paper will define literature as the set

made out of words, the text with an aesthetic

of all the works published or publishable in

function, which includes prose fiction and

book form. There can be some embarrassment

poetry. In a narrow conception, literature would

in this definition when facing a book composed

be the prose fiction, as opposed to poetry. In

of images only, such as a photo album or a

this sense, a writer produces novels, short

Caminhas Letter is considered to be the founding

Brazilian Cultural Studies

First of all, we should define what we

our goal here is to show that the lack of clear

Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi

compilation of reproductions of paintings, as

described or narrated only what can be verified

well as in relation to a childrens book having

through research and documentation, but has

nothing but illustrations. Nevertheless, they are

introduced dialogues, portrayed persons and

border cases: the infant-addressed book does

environments or made comments that were a