Introducing Criticism in the 21st Century

by Julian Wolfreys

Introducing Criticism at the 21st Century provides a wide-ranging guide to current directions in literary criticism. The book develops out of continental thinking and insights from poststructuralism, feminism, deconstruction, and psychoanalysis. Each of the authors explains the various contours of their discourses while bringing these into sharp relief for the student reader through readings of canonical novels, poems, plays, films, and Web sites.The book is organized into five Identities, Dialogues, Space and Place, Critical Voices, and Materiality and the Immaterial. These orientations reflect the interdisciplinary nature of critical and cultural studies, as do the themes covered within the Diaspora Criticism, Gender and Transgender Criticism, Women of Color and Feminist Criticism, Chaos Theory, Complexity Theory and Criticism, Ethical Criticism, Trauma and Testimonial Criticism, Ecocriticism, Spatial Criticism, Cybercriticism, Deleuzean Criticism, Levinas and Criticism, and Spectral Criticism and (A)material Criticism.

Unknown Binding

First published May 15, 2002

Reviews

[Nelma Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mindblowing book that gives a new perspective about all branches of criticism. Didn't expect anything less from Wolfreys though:)

[Daniel Saleh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A highly demanding book, namely a Mind Raper, which treats matters of long controversial status through novel challenging perspectives.

“The possibility of this thing called responsibility is a certain experience and experiment of the possibility of the impossible: the testing of the aporia from which one may invent the only possible invention, the impossible invention.” _Jacques Derrida

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for beginners and for finding new primary and secondary sources. The chapters are not great for understanding a whole theoretical background solely by reading them, but it is a useful first step.

[Hossein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical theory leads you beyond the mere analysis of literature. This book helps you to analyze the world you live in. It never responds to any questions, but each chapter leaves you in an open-end space to explore and discuss.

[Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is either a hit or miss with the theories they engage with. I do find it useful, however, and look forward to future editions.