Reading Literary Theories 1.Why and How 2.Before and After New Criticism Kate Liu, Fall 2002

Outline 1.Why?Why? 2.How? Suggested attitudes The focus of our course;focus 3.Contextualizing our focus: before and after New Criticismbefore and after New Criticism

Why Theory? Con: -- no longer “literary study,” ignoring the beauty or essence of literature; -- a mere word play or mind game; abstract and obscure; separate from reality or politics; -- “fetishization” of theories Pro -- It provides us new frameworks and perspectives; helps us ask new questions of the texts we study and about our lives. -- democratization of English Studies.

How? 1.Read with an active mind. (Do not feel “oppressed” by the difficult languages.)active 2.Always read to get the main points (to find the questions the theory asks) and to ask questions. questions 3.Always try to relate and to map. (It’s impossible to separate all the theoretical discourses into mutually exclusive theoretical schools.)to relate and to map

Theory as an Activity vs. Theory as a body of knowledge “In the former, theory is taught as a means of understanding the world; in the latter, theorizing is encouraged as a pedagogical practice in which students become actual participants in the use of theory.” (Henry Giroux’s ideas explained by Storey) It’s better to know how to theorize than to memorize all the theoretical jargons.

General Questions to ask What are the theorist’s main concerns? What questions does s/he ask and how does s/he answer them? Do you have any questions? What are the theorist’s key terms? How are they defined? What is the theorist’s method? Is a methodology explicitly laid out or is it implied? (modified from “Doxography versus Inquiry” by Donald G. Marshall. Sadoff 84) Sadoff

Articulation vs. Application Application –one-to-one correspondence between a theory and a text; Articulation ( 接連 ) of theories and texts, of different theories : connecting, negotiating, translating. “wrestling with the angels”: “The only theory worth having is that which you have to fight off, not that which you speak with profound fluency.” (Stuart Hall textbook 1901)

The focus of our course 1.Start with structuralism vs. poststructuralism to trace a general movement in contemporary critical theories. 2.Choose two theoretical schools to see how they deal with the issues of language, subjectivity, desire, body and socio-economic determination; 3.Use examples from Cultural Studies to show these theories are negotiated, combined and/or re-interpreted.

before and after New Criticism Structuralism –Basic ideas of Ferdinand de Saussure? 1. The synchronic vs. the diachronic; langue vs. parole// competence vs. performance 2. Language is a system of difference. Meaning occurs in binary opposition between two signs. (e.g. toy, boy)a system of difference 3. sign = signifier and signified; the connection between them is arbitrary.

Influences of Structuralism: some examples Sign= signifier + signified  referent Language is not mimetic (a mirror, or a transparent container of reality); it constructs reality; it speaks us. Binary thinking.

Examples of binarism in traditional literary theories Politics/Truth vs. Plato – the realm of appearance vs. the realm of Form  poetry twice removed Poetics Aristotle –Three unity, etc. Sir Philip Sidney: to teach and delight The Mirror and the Lamp

Examples of binarism in traditional literary theories (2) Reason Plato – poetry tells lies and excites emotions. Pope -- golden rules; restraint, good taste, Dryden: "wit": propriety of thoughts and words Emotion/Energy Romantic poets: imagination  New Criticism: Setting up Literature as a discipline (autonomy, organicism, etc.)  An “objective” approach, just as Structuralism is scientific

Binaries in contemporary theories Politics vs. Poetics; Art vs. popular culture; Culture vs. Economic Relations; Father vs. Mother; Lack vs. imaginary plenitude fixity of meaning vs. fluidity of language, identity and culture, etc. The lines are no longer clear-cut. Autonomy and Absolute truth are out.

References Storey, John, ed.. What is Cultural Studies: A Reader. London: Arnold, Sadoff, Dianne F and William E. Cain, eds. Teaching Contemporary Theory to Undergraduates. NY: MLA 1994.