The Critical Pulse
Thirty-Six Credos by Contemporary Critics
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- $31.99
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- $31.99
Publisher Description
This unprecedented anthology asks thirty-six leading literary and cultural critics to elaborate on the nature of their profession. With the humanities feeling the pinch of financial and political pressures, and its disciplines resting on increasingly uncertain conceptual ground, there couldn't be a better time for critics to reassert their widespread relevance and purpose. These credos boldly defend the function of criticism in contemporary society and showcase its vitality in the era after theory.
Essays address literature and politics, with some focusing on the sorry state of higher education and others concentrating on teaching and the fate of the humanities. All reflect the critics' personal, particular experiences. Deeply personal and engaging, these stories move, amuse, and inspire, ultimately encouraging the reader to develop his or her own critical credo with which to approach the world. Reflecting on the past, looking forward to the future, and committed to the power of productive critical thought, this volume proves the value of criticism for today's skeptical audiences.
Contributors: Andrew Ross, Amitava Kumar, Lisa Lowe, Vincent B. Leitch, Craig Womack, Jeffrey J. Williams, Marc Bousquet, Katie Hogan, Michelle A. Massé, John Conley, Heather Steffen, Paul Lauter, Cary Nelson, David B. Downing, Barbara Foley, Michael Bérubé, Victor Cohen, Gerald Graff, William Germano, Ann Pellegrini, Bruce Robbins, Kenneth Warren, Diana Fuss, Lauren Berlant, Toril Moi, Morris Dickstein, Rita Felski, David R. Shumway, Mark Bauerlein, Devoney Looser, Stephen Burt, Mark Greif, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Mark McGurl, Frances Negrón-Muntaner, Judith Jack Halberstam
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This piquant and welcome volume presents the "credos" of 36 scholars reflections on why criticism matters, why and how they do the work they do, and what they hope to accomplish. Contributors range from the well established (Michael B rub and Andrew Ross) to the just starting out (including co-editor Steffen) and represent a variety of specialties including women's studies and performance studies. The book is broken into six sections, and editors Williams and Steffen urge the reader to "dip into" the book and skip around. The first section, "A Critic's Progress" sets the tone, with intensely personal essays that explore each scholar's intellectual transformation. A number of essays focus on politics, finding connections between criticism and political activism and discourse, but also advocating for the ability to think and evaluate ideas regardless of ideology. Looking at "Academic Labor," the contributors dissect the problems facing the academic workplace and offer concrete suggestions for achieving change. The final group of essays gives voice to the "rising generation of critics" and new developments, with Kathleen Fitzpatrick's essay about academic discourse and blogging a particularly timely standout. Though knowledge of literary criticism, its major practitioners, and dominant schools of thought will undoubtedly help, there's still much for general readers interested in the state of higher education.
