Critical Practice

by Catherine Belsey

What is poststructuralist theory, and what difference does it make to literary criticism? Where do we find the meaning of the in the author's head? in the reader's? Or do we, instead, make meaning in the practice of reading itself? If so, what part do our own values play in the process of interpretation? And what is the role of the text? Catherine Belsey considers these and other questions concerning the relations between human beings and language, readers and texts, writing and cultural politics. Assuming no prior knowledge of poststructuralism, Critical Practice guides the reader confidently through the maze of contemporary theory. It simply and lucidly explains the views of key figures such as Louis Althusser, Roland Barthes, Jacques Lacan and Jacques Derrida, and shows their theories at work in readings of familiar literary texts.
Critical Practice argues that theory matters, because it makes a difference to what we do when we read, opening up new possibilities for literary and cultural analysis. Poststructuralism, in conjunction with psychoanalysis and deconstruction, makes radical change to the way we read both a priority and a possibility.
With a new chapter, updated guidance on further reading and revisions throughout, this second edition of Critical Practice is the ideal guide to the present and future of literary studies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Theory, Philosophy, Criticism, School, Lit Crit

Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Catherine Belsey is currently Research Professor at Swansea University and formerly Distinguished Research Professor at Cardiff University. Best known for her pioneering book, Critical Practice (Methuen, 1980), Catherine Belsey has an international reputation as a deft and sophisticated critical theorist and subtle and eloquent critic of literature, particularly of Renaissance texts. Her main area of work is on the implications of poststructuralist theory for aspects of cultural history and criticism. Her present project is ’Culture and the Real’, a consideration of the limitations of contemporary constructivism in the light of Lacanian psychoanalysis. Professor Belsey chairs the Centre for Critical and Cultural Theory, a research forum for discussion and debate on current views of the relation between human beings and culture.

Reviews

[Amine]

We work on this Book at university what other Books Can help me understand those theories please?

[ُSeyed Rahim Hashemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

rahimhashemiکتاب عمل نقد از خانم کاترین بلزی و ترجمه عباس مخبر را خواندم. چند خط درباره کتاب:
استاد و دانشجو در این فرض مشترکند ک در نوعی برداشت مبتنی بر شعور متعارف از ادبیات اشتراک نظر دارند ک عمل خواندن را نوعی جستجو برای رسیدن به واقع‌گرایی تاثری میشمارند.
از نظریه‌های جدید سخن گفته، نقد جدید را میخواند، از قدرت خواننده میگوید. درباره نقد و ارتباطش با معنا در یک فصل صحبت میکند و از زبان شناسی پساسوسوری، ساخت معنا و تکثر معنا مینویسد، سوژه و مدلولهای متفاوت آنرا تبیین میکند، از «تفاوط» میگوید، و خواننده را بعنوان مصرف کننده یا خالق اثر و تولید کننده متن بررسی میکند.
ترجمه کتاب و ویراستاری خوب اما محتوا و موضوع آن ک درباره فلسفه نقد است سنگین و سخت فهم است. میتوانم بگویم که یکی از کتابهایی است ک بیشترین زمان را از من گرفت و تقریبا هیچ نفهمیدم...

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good introduction/summary of critical theory, its main philosophers and how it applies to literary studies. It is still a demanding read but Belsey made a good attempt in explaning what Derrida and Barthes really meant. And while I was reading it, I even thought for a moment, I finally understood it! Of course, later on, I realized it is not really possible to understand them fully as it is an extremely dense material but it clarifies certain points.

If someone is interested in critical theory and literary studies, it helps! It is not the best book I have read on the matter but it is a decent explanation.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read: it doodled my brain. But i can't say anything now without thinking it's motivated by a hidden ideological structure. And if ideology really is inscribed in discourse, it could be happening right now, argh!

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my life.

[Sarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly dated, but invaluable for someone trying to make sense of Literary Theory on their own.

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

did i learn a lot? yes. however. i would've preferred it in less jargon.

[Maitreyi Parakh · Rating 2 out of 5]

going through my post-quarter goodreads update and a lot of books are getting two stars. maybe this is an indicator for how final grades are going to start looking for me

[sologdin · Rating 2 out of 5]

one of the recommended texts for theory novices back when I was in school, along with eagleton's Ideology an Introduction and brantlinger's Crusoe's Footprints, all of which assume the general type of introduction provided in Texts and Contexts or, more complexly, Literary Theory An Introduction.

the learning curve when I was in school was high, as the second step in this curriculum was Thinking Fragments, Archaeology of Knowledge, and The Postmodern Condition.

[Aryan Kato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required introductory text.

Goes from Saussurean to post-Saussurean criticism highlighting along the way the roles of Althusser, Lacan, Barthes, and Derrida, reader-response, ideal expressionism, among others.

[Alysha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not stand this class (English critical theory) or this book. That is all.

[Aran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stellar wee book. Lucid and troubling.