چکیده (انگلیسی):

This paper considers James McBride’ s novel Song Y et Sung through multiple lenses – Bakhtin’ s Carnivalesque, magic
realismand performativity as it relates to race and gender identities. It is considered how the character of the “Dreamer”
can be read clinically as suffering the sequelae of a traumatic brain injury . Her symptoms, which include future
hallucinations or prophecies, can be read as neurological symptoms of her multiple head injuries documented in the
novel. Connected to this reading, the influence of magic realism is considered, particularly as it relates to the natural
imagery and symbolism in the novel. The importance of birds, in particular, is considered. Carnivalesque as
conceptualized by Bakhtin is also considered in the context of “magical” thinking and reading, and its connections to
social subversion; this is considered in relation to the era of slavery , its legacy , and associated issues of genderand race.
Keywords: Carnivalesque, Magic Realism, Prophecy , Gender Performance, Racial Performativity , Identity
Performance