The State of theory : essays on literary theory and literary criticism

Since the 1960s, the object of literary studies has become increasingly problematic. Critical theory and cultural studies have combined to challenge traditional assuptions of exactly what we mean by `literature'. This development in English studies is now also complicated by recent changes in the institutional structure of education. Written by teachers who are also at the forefront of the development of critical theory, The State of Theory offers a diversity of perspectives on the current state of literary studies. Topics discussed include: \* Race and gender in literary studies \* The value of student `Theory Guides' \* The impact of theory on teaching practice \* The future of theory in our English departments BOOK COVER......Page 1 HALF-TITLE......Page 2 TITLE......Page 3 COPYRIGHT......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 5 CONTRIBUTORS......Page 6 PREFACE......Page 7 OLD TRAINS OF THOUGHT......Page 10 MEMORIES OF THEORIES AND PRACTICES......Page 12 POSTBINARIES: FROM THE SUN TO SONY AND SUN......Page 15 TRAVELLING THEORY......Page 19 Options......Page 22 SUGGESTED READINGS AND RESOURCES......Page 23 2 THEORY AND DIFFICULTY......Page 25 ON CRITICISM AS LIMINALITY......Page 27 ON SPEED AND DIFFICULTY......Page 30 CONCLUSION......Page 34 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 35 3 IN EXEMPLIFICATION......Page 36 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 49 4 LEAVING PARTIES AND LEGACIES......Page 51 A SORT OF REVOLUTION......Page 55 COLLECTIVITY AND COLLABORATION......Page 57 SCHOOLS ENGLISH......Page 58 THE FUTURE OF ENGLISHES?......Page 61 CODA......Page 63 NOTES......Page 64 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 65 5 TOWARDS A GOTHIC CRITICISM......Page 66 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 76 PARADIGM LOST......Page 77 THE PARADIGM IN CRISIS......Page 79 Trilling......Page 82 Suleri......Page 85 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 87 INTRODUCTION......Page 89 THEORIES OF TYPES......Page 92 THE CONSTITUENTS OF BODIES......Page 95 AN IDEAL LANGUAGE......Page 96 BLACK FEMINIST THEORY......Page 98 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 103 8 HAVING YOUR ASSUMPTIONS QUESTIONED......Page 106 THE POLITICS OF THEORY GUIDES......Page 107 THE CHOICE OF THEORIES......Page 110 AFTER THE NEW CRITICISM......Page 112 PEDAGOGIC CLICHÉS......Page 113 HANDLE WITH CARE......Page 115 THEORY AND CRITICISM......Page 116 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 118 9 AESTHETICS, CULTURAL STUDIES AND THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH......Page 120 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 131 THE SHOCK OF THE NEW......Page 133 CONFLICT......Page 135 POPULARITY......Page 137 TEACHING......Page 140 THE STUDENT OF THE 1990s......Page 143 THESIS-ANTITHESIS: A METHOD OF TEACHING......Page 144 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 147 INDEX......Page 148 Written by teachers who are also at the forefront of the development of critical theory, The State of Theory offers a diversity of perspectives, both practical and theoretical, on the current state of literary studies in education.