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Post by shaxper on Apr 18, 2002 18:08:17 GMT -5
What importance, if any, do you see in literary criticism? It's a pretty broad question but, in general, to you find criticism useful? Do you enjoy reading (and possibly writing) it? Or do you think it's just the product of self-important scholars, writing to read their own words and destroying classic literature? Do you define yourself as a certain type or critic or allign yourself with a certain form of criticism?
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Post by shaxper on Apr 28, 2002 23:53:00 GMT -5
Might as well get this conversation moving by answering my own question I strongly believe in the idea of criticism, but I am very dissatisfied with how it is used most of the time. I believe that the purpose of criticism is to enhance the enjoyment of a particular work for your readers by pointing out something about it that makes it an even greater work. However, I am very much against the idea of "using" a text to support a political belief, or even worse yet, for the sake of furthering your own career. I believe that forms of criticism such as feminism and marxism serve a purpose; that they truly can unveil fascinating things about certain texts. But a text should not be manipulated to serve a Marxist or feminist Cause. I see that as a violation of an unspoken trust between a literary theorist and his/her reader. It isn't what the literature is about. I try to avoid camps, and certainly am not concerned with supporting and furthering a specific kind of criticism, but I think my way of approaching a text borrows mostly from New Historicism, Social constructionism, and Marxism. I try to view a work as a reflection of the time period it was written in and attempt to gain an understanding of the social forces that shaped that specific period in time, as well as how those social forces might be represented within the text. In a sense, it all boils down to a sort of Author's Intention situation, but I look more for unconscious, undeliberate manifestations of social forces which exist simply because they also existed within the mind and existence of the author. Heavy, I know. I'm not even entirely sure I understand what I just wrote , but I think that sums up the way I look at a text. I find it enjoyable to see how large the implications of a single story may have been for an entire society.
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N.N.W
Money Lender
Posts: 35
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Post by N.N.W on May 29, 2002 7:10:13 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]I think its irresponsble not to critique! Without analysis there can be no insight, without insight there can be no understanding, without understanding there can be no growth! Its human nature to pull things apart to see how they work! [/glow]
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N.N.W
Money Lender
Posts: 35
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Post by N.N.W on May 29, 2002 7:17:57 GMT -5
I am very much against the idea of "using" a text to support a political belief, or even worse yet, for the sake of furthering your own career. I believe that forms of criticism such as feminism and marxism serve a purpose; that they truly can unveil fascinating things about certain texts. But a text should not be manipulated to serve a Marxist or feminist Cause. I see that as a violation of an unspoken trust between a literary theorist and his/her reader. It isn't what the literature is about. [glow=red,2,300] I wasted an entire course of my degree to feminist zealots. Being a keen military hobbyist, as well as a theatre lover, I eagerly signed myself up for a 'Theatre of War' course - advertised as the analysis of theatre as propoganda (focussing on a whole host of Shakespeares works) and the representation of War in theatre. Lovely.
12 weeks of militant feminist rant later, I had learnt that in war, women have a harsh time, and that lots of plays supported this.
sigh...
[/glow]
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Post by shaxper on May 29, 2002 8:26:37 GMT -5
Unfortunately, Shakespeare can be manipulated and warped to support a lot of things, which isn't necessarily a problem until critics begin viewing the plays as possessing no other value. There's nothing wrong with theorizing that Shakespeare was an early feminist. In many ways, it's supportable. But geez! Don't sell Shakespeare (or your students) out by making his plays only about that!
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N.N.W
Money Lender
Posts: 35
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Post by N.N.W on May 29, 2002 8:39:27 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] I was unbelievably disapointed. Not just Shakespeare either. Ruined lots of the classics and tons of modern pieces for me as well...
Nevermind. [/glow]
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Post by shaxper on May 29, 2002 8:41:47 GMT -5
Horrifying.
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