Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)

Studies - András Tarnóc: Voices From the Wild Zone: Three Versions of the Feminist Aesthetic in American Culture

primary core and numerous secondary cores. The primary core in this case refers to "mainstream America," and the secondary core is informed by numerous subcultures. The division between dominant and muted groups parallels the distinction between the primary and secondary cores. However, if one considers the wild zone and the men's section on Ardener's imaginary circles as separate areas, the notion of centrifugality and centripetality can be applied. In its general thrust the white female aesthetic is non-divisive. The New Testament version suggests integration. Du Plessis promotes Woolf's notion of androgeneity and integrationism. The radical feminist approach, viewing the male as the enemy, demonstrated by Cixous and Rich among others, is divisive or particularistic. The female aesthetics is an important element of multicultural (MC) America. Its inclusive main trend is pluralistic as Viragos \s MCI. and the radical version qualifies as MC2. Furthermore, the notion of the primary core must be considered. Since American civilization is a result of a balancing act between culturally divisive, centrifugal, and uniting centripetal forces, the white, middle-class version of the female aesthetics is centripetal toward the primary core. However, if one accepts feminism as a subculture, radical feminism emphasizing gender-based oppression and calling for cultural independence, it is centrifugal to the primary core and centripetal in relation to the secondary core. The primary core is a multi-tiered concept containing icons of American history, literature and popular culture on one level, and the notions of philosophical Americanism, mythological explanations, affective Americanism, and a volitional component on the other (Virágos 31-32). Consequently female aes dieticians' efforts, replacing the stereotyped "feminine mystique" with professional women, expand the canon, bringing new icons into the public discourse in the process. The emphasis of gynotexts over androtexts serves this purpose as well. Philosophical Americanism, as well as a reference to one of the "sacred documents of the republic" (Virágos 32), is prevalent in the Seneca Falls Declaration's adoption of the ideas of the Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, the Amazon, fashioned after Wittig's Les Guerilléres, brings the superhero, one of the integral figures of the cultural mainstream into mind. Also the promotion of the New 104