The Polyphony of the Circle

Abstract

The author focuses on newly discovered archival materials and traces the genesis of polyphony (defined as “many-voicedness”) and its development in the works of the members of the Bakhtin Circle. Polyphony is a foundational concept elaborated by members of the Circle through collaboration, especially in the dialogical relationship between Bakhtin and Medvedev. The members of the Circle shared common ground in the development of their ideas, while simultaneously adhering to differing ideological orientations and styles. The mode of intellectual discussion and personal interaction practised by Bakhtin and his friends can best be described as polyphonical. The concept of polyphony grew out of the lengthy dialogue between Bakhtin and Medvedev. The coincidence of their thinking can be seen by carefully examining their earliest publications. This article also examines hitherto unpublished documents relating to the authorship of the “disputed texts.” The authors conclude that there is no longer any basis for attributing these texts to Bakhtin. An appendix to the article contains translations of three articles published by Medvedev in 1911 and 1912.