Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2002. Vol. 8. Eger Journal of American Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 28)

Studies - Lenke Németh: Academia as a Carnivalized Space: A Bakhtinian Reading of David Mamet's Oleanna

learning, and she does what she is expected to do, yet she fails the professor's course: CAROL. I'm just: I sit in class I ... (She holds up her notebook.) I take notes ... JOHN. (simultaneously with "notes"): Yes. I understand. What I am trying to tell you is that some, some basic ... CAROL I

... JOHN. ... one moment: some basic missed communi... CAROL. I'm doing what I'm told. I bought your book, I read your JOHN. No, I'm sure you ... CAROL. No, no, no. I'm doing what I'm told. It's difficult for me. It's dijficult

... (Mamet 6) However, swamped by the multiple pressures of his career options, John is unable to comprehend Carol's grievances. This brief dialogue exchange also illustrates his impatient and arrogant attitude toward Carol, which can be attributed to the distorting effect of business space on his personality. From the first moment of their encounter, he is distracted by the financial troubles of a new house that he has already contracted to purchase, counting on the advancement of his expected tenured position. The professor's acts and discourse

— obviously, under the influence of his business-oriented self

—are reminiscent of a businessman rather than a professor. I suppose that the italicized words in John's excuse below, in the drama, function as explicit subtextual indicators of John's agitated state of mind and a business-like lexis dominating his discourse: "I have a telephone call that I have to make. And an appointment

, which is rather pressing

; though I sympathize with your concerns, and though I wish I had the time, this was not a previously scheduled meeting

" (12-13). A "carnivalistic paired scene" underlies that both Carol and John give priority to financial security over a love of learning and a love of teaching, respectively. Desperately trying to convince the professor why she needs the pass grade, Carol alludes to the difficulties arising from her different social and economic background: JOHN... . wait one moment. I ... CAROL. It is true. I have problems ... JOHN... . every ... CAROL... . I come from a different social

... JOHN... . ev ... 240