Literary Criticism in the 21st Century: Theory Renaissance

Product Description
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 futuresWritten 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.
Review
“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… does not pull any punches; he takes a pointed, forthright view of the ‘corporate university'… a skillful account of theory's influence, history, and continued relevance.” ―Publishers Weekly“This book does assume some prior knowledge of theory, but apart from referring to the various schools and branches of theory by their (often intimidating) names, it's relatively free of jargon and opaque "academese" writing. I found it an engaging and rewarding read.” ―Karl Bunker“Literary Criticism in the 21st Century is a valuable and rewarding book. One of its many virtues is its style, pellucid and often autobiographical. Leitch both describes and wonderfully practices what he calls ‘intimate critique,’ the blending of personal experiences and affects into the analysis of larger structures and trends.” - Joseph Albernaz, University of California―Berkeley, USA, symploke
About the Author
Vincent Leitch is George Lynn Cross Research Professor and Paul and Carol Daube Sutton Chair in English at the University of Oklahoma, USA. He is the author of American Literary Criticism Since the 1930s (2nd edition, 2010) and co-editor of The Norton Anthology of Literary Criticism and Theory (2nd edition, 2010).