The Discourse Genre and the Dispute Over the Forms of (Re)Construction of Social Practices

Abstract

This article aims to discuss how the (co-)construction of discourse genre shows disputes over the (re)construction of social reality. To accomplish this, a theoretical review is done, bringing the Bakhtinian postulates closer to those of Critical Discourse Analysis, in the formulation of Critical Genre Analysis. A socio-educational group session (sessão de grupo socioeducativo) for men who have committed violence against women is analyzed, illustrating the discursive dispute regarding the constituent frame of the genre's theme. The data analyzed was generated over 12 months of ethnographic research field work. The discussion allows us to perceive the open nature of language and practices, made intelligible through critical analysis of discourse genres, and points to essential openings in the political struggle for social change.