Overview

Politics in the Book of Haggai: A Jamesonian Reading applies the textual theory of American Marxist Fredric Jameson for a critical reading of the book of the prophet Haggai. It attempts to show that the text not only represents the tensions of the past but has a greater function where it endeavors to resolve the issues on an imaginary level—this is a unique feature of Jameson’s theory. Furthermore, the book argues that the contradictions and conflicts in the text—at the historical level—occur amongst the golah community, specifically amongst its leaders. The book commences with a discussion of Jameson’s textual theory, highlighting its importance within the realm of Marxist discussion. The main content of the book is the appropriation of the three-tier method to critically read the book of the prophet Haggai. The book closes by discussing its conclusions within the realms of Marxism, the prophet Haggai, and island hermeneutics.

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9781978713505

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Reviews

Malutafa Faalili’s rigorous analysis of the rhetoric of the Hebrew text of Haggai and well-researched discussion of its’ socioeconomic context will be of interest, not only to specialists in Haggai and Marxist criticism, but to everyone concerned with decolonizing biblical interpretation. His discussions of the dynamics of honor and shame, social groups, imperial, royal, and family ideologies, different economies, and cultural transformation are as interesting as they are insightful. * Arthur Walker-Jones University of Winnipeg * Politics in the Book of Haggai takes political exegesis to a whole new level. Reading Haggai through Jameson's hermeneutic of History, Faalili patiently works away at the text until it reveals its political unconscious: the reluctance of the people to build the temple. This reading confidently speaks to and from the social, political, and economic context of Samoa and questions the need for colonial treasure houses in struggling communities. This implicates us all. * Christina Petterson, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland *

Malutafa Faalili’s rigorous analysis of the rhetoric of the Hebrew text of Haggai and well-researched discussion of its’ socioeconomic context will be of interest, not only to specialists in Haggai and Marxist criticism, but to everyone concerned with decolonizing biblical interpretation. His discussions of the dynamics of honor and shame, social groups, imperial, royal, and family ideologies, different economies, and cultural transformation are as interesting as they are insightful. * Arthur Walker-Jonesm University of Winnipeg *

Author Information

Malutafa Faalili is a lecturer in Old Testament Studies, Language and Literature at Malua Theological College in the islands of Samoa and an Ordained Minister of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa.

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