Literary Criticism in the 21st Century
Theory Renaissance
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- 32,99 €
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- 32,99 €
Beschreibung des Verlags
For more than a decade literary criticism has been thought to be in a post-theory age. Despite this, the work of thinkers such as Derrida, Deleuze and Foucault and new writers such as Agamben and Ranciere continue to be central to literary studies. Literary Criticism in the 21st Century explores the explosion of new theoretical approaches that has seen a renaissance in theory and its importance in the institutional settings of the humanities today.
Literary Criticism in the 21st Century covers such issues as:
The institutional history of theory in the academy
The case against theory, from the 1970s to today
Critical reading, theory and the wider world
Keystone works in contemporary theory
New directions and theory's many futures
Written with an engagingly personal and accessible approach that brings theory vividly to life, this is a passionate defence of theory and its continuing relevance in the 21st century.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
University of Oklahoma English professor Leitch (American Literary Criticism Since the 1930s, 2nd edition) offers a spirited defense of literary theory. Defying those who feel criticism is in a "post-theory" age, following the intense, contentious theory and culture wars of the 1980s and 1990s, Leitch claims that theory is a way to engage the postmodern globalized world. The disparate chapters two, for example, are extended interview/talks with Leitch himself present a comprehensive picture of the state of criticism in the new century. In addition to the interviews, chapters cover the continuing fascination with the French schools of theory (especially the work of Jacques Derrida) and game-changing new scholarship. Leitch takes on the anti-theory critics, addressing their arguments and learning from them, even expressing some of his own reservations about contemporary criticism. A section in which he gives advice to graduate students seeking to specialize in theory does not pull any punches; he takes a pointed, forthright view of the "corporate university." While candidly assessing academia today, he maintains that theory has a bright future. While is was written primarily for specialists, it is nevertheless a skillful account of theory's influence, history, and continued relevance.
