What Metaphors Do Sneaky: Discourse and Subject

Abstract

I have set myself the task of taking some contributions of FOUCAULT’s thinking and linking them to ideas of latter theorists (who undoubtedly have been familiar with his philosophy) in order to put forward a method of social research based on a metaphorical approach to language and knowledge. Specifically, this article proposes a metaphorical approach to the study of the relationships between discourse, social subjection and subjectivation. A way of examining social knowledge is proposed, based on metaphoric-metonymic notions and the use of metaphors as a research tool to analyze the relationships between discourse and social subjection. The first part of the article presents aspects of Michel FOUCAULT´s work which are used to support this proposal. The second part develops my argument and concludes presenting a wide-ranging model for the use of metaphors in qualitative research. The third part exemplifies the use of this model in a discussion group of self-employed working mothers in Santiago, Chile. Finally, some comments on the scope and limits of this work are offered. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0702122