The critical pulse thirty-six credos by contemporary critics ; Mark Bauerlein, Lauren Berlant, Michael Bérubé, Marc Bousquet, Morris Dickstein, Rita Felski, Diana Fuss, Judith Jack Halberstam, Amitava Kumar, Lisa Lowe, Mark McGurl, Toril Moi, Cary Nelso

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. Masse, John Conley, Heather Steffen, Paul Lauter, Cary Nelson, David B. Downing, Barbara Foley, Michael Berube, 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 Negron-Muntaner, Judith Jack Halberstam 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 Contents Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION: Criticism in a Difficult Time A Critic's Progress 1. THE CASE FOR SCHOLARLY REPORTING 2. DECLARATIONS OF INDEPENDENCE 3. ON CRITIQUE AND INHERITANCE 4. WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHY 5. HEARING LOSSES AND GAINS 6. LONG ISLAND INTELLECTUAL Academic Labor 7, WE WORK 8. WHAT IS CRITICISM ON ACADEMIC LABOR FOR? 9. “ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE” : Believing in Higher Education 10. AGAINST HEROISM 11. PACK CONSCIOUSNESS Declarations of Politics 12. ACTIVISM AND CURRICULUM 13. REVOLUTIONARY CONSCIOUSNESS 14. GEOPOLITICAL TRANSLATORS 15. CRITICAL CREDO 16. THIS I BELIEVED 17. “HOPE DIES LAST” : Cultural Studies and Studs Terkel Pedagogical Moments 18. CREDO OF A TEACHER 19. OF CREDOS AND CREDIBILITY 20. TEACHING FRICTION 21. COERCED CONFESSIONS 22. ON RACE AND LITERATURE 23. TEACHING THEORY 24. AFFECT IS THE NEW TRAUMA The Defense of Literature 25. ACCESS TO THE UNIVERSAL : Language, Literature, and the Humanities 26. WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL : A Modest Critical Credo 27. EVERYDAY AESTHETICS 28. CRITICISM IS VITAL 29. CRITICAL CREDO 30. WHY I’M STILL WRITING WOMEN’S LITERARY HISTORY New Turns 31. WITHOUT EVIDENCE 32. ALL THERE IS TO USE 33. OPEN 34. TIMING 35. THE POLITICS OF SMALL PROBLEMS 36. THE POWER OF UNKNOWING Contributors