Day: November 18, 2024

Introduction: “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory by Charles Altieri first appeared in the Spring 1976 issue of Criticism (Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 122-146), published by Wayne State University Press. The essay situates Wordsworth’s “Preface to the Second Edition of the Lyrical Ballads” within a framework of philosophical empiricism and idealism, drawing on Wittgenstein’s philosophical ideas to reinterpret Wordsworth’s naturalistic poetics. Altieri explores how Wordsworth’s theories challenge the dichotomies of nature and consciousness by emphasizing shared human experiences reflected in ordinary language and recurrent natural contexts. This analysis highlights the “Preface” as a pivotal contribution to literary theory, offering insights into aesthetic pleasure, the moral resonance of language, and the enduring role of memory. Altieri’s work underscores Wordsworth’s relevance in redefining the philosophical and ethical dimensions of poetry, bridging Romantic thought and modern theoretical concerns.

Summary of “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

• Critique of the Nature-Consciousness Dichotomy: Altieri argues that Wordsworth challenges the rigid dichotomy between nature and consciousness posited by empiricist and idealist traditions. Wordsworth offers a concept of “the natural” that emphasizes human participation in linguistic and cultural activities rather than representation of external objects (Altieri, p. 123).
• Language as a Shared Activity: Drawing on Wittgenstein’s philosophy, Altieri highlights Wordsworth’s view of language as a communal activity rooted in repeated experiences and regular feelings, not merely an interpretative tool. Wordsworth’s language philosophy seeks direct engagement with ordinary speech and contexts (Altieri, p. 126).
• Poetic Language and Philosophical Grammar: Wordsworth’s poetic language is seen as more philosophical because it avoids abstract interpretations and instead depends on shared human contexts and interactions. Altieri connects this view to Wittgenstein’s idea of “philosophical grammar,” where meaning arises from shared actions rather than isolated mental acts (Altieri, p. 128).
• Pleasure and Aesthetic Experience: Wordsworth associates poetry with the generation of pleasure, aligning it with a broader sense of human harmony and community. This pleasure serves as a psychological and ontological bridge between subjective emotions and objective truths (Altieri, p. 133).
• Memory as a Constructive Force: Memory plays a central role in Wordsworth’s theory, reconciling subjective and objective dimensions of experience. It serves as a mechanism for transforming natural experiences into enduring truths and for preserving shared cultural values (Altieri, p. 137).
• Critique of Neo-Idealism: Altieri critiques critics like Geoffrey Hartman and Paul de Man for imposing a radical separation between mind and nature. He argues that Wordsworth offers a more integrative approach that avoids both sentimentalism and extreme abstraction (Altieri, p. 139).
• Relevance of Ordinary Language Philosophy: Wordsworth’s emphasis on ordinary language and shared human activities resonates with Wittgenstein’s critique of abstract philosophical systems. Poetry, in Wordsworth’s view, bridges gaps in human understanding by making ordinary experiences resonate with deeper meanings (Altieri, p. 136).
• Contrasts with Coleridge: Wordsworth’s focus on memory and recurrence differs from Coleridge’s idealization of imagination. While Coleridge seeks divine unity, Wordsworth finds coherence in human development and shared cultural practices (Altieri, p. 137).
• A Secular Vision of Grace: Wordsworth’s poetic theory culminates in a vision of secular salvation. Through the processes of loss, compensation, and recognition of life’s rhythms, humans can achieve a form of grace and shared understanding, encapsulated in autobiographical works like The Prelude (Altieri, p. 146).

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

Theoretical Term/Concept	Explanation	Reference in Altieri
The Natural	Wordsworth’s concept of “the natural” emphasizes human participation in cultural and linguistic activities over representation.	p. 123
Philosophical Grammar	Inspired by Wittgenstein, it refers to the study of language through its use in shared contexts and human activities.	p. 128
Ordinary Language	Wordsworth’s advocacy for poetic language that aligns with everyday speech to reveal shared human experiences.	p. 126
Pleasure in Aesthetic Experience	The psychological and ontological harmony derived from poetry that connects subjective emotions to objective truths.	p. 133
Memory as Recurrence	Memory as a mechanism for connecting past experiences to present understanding, reconciling the subjective and objective.	p. 137
Rejection of Interpretation	Wordsworth’s critique of “interpretation” as overly abstract, favoring immediate recognition and engagement with language.	p. 129
Empiricism vs. Idealism	A critique of these traditional frameworks; Wordsworth offers a naturalistic alternative that integrates human activity and nature.	p. 123
Forms of Life	Wittgenstein’s concept used to illustrate how shared cultural practices form the basis for meaning in Wordsworth’s poetics.	p. 127
Aesthetic and Moral Language	The interplay between Wordsworth’s poetic language and its capacity to sustain human sympathy and communal understanding.	p. 136
Secular Grace	Wordsworth’s idea of finding fulfillment and coherence in life’s rhythms and shared human experiences without religious abstraction.	p. 146
Critique of Gothic Literature	Wordsworth’s opposition to extreme emotionality in Gothic literature for failing to connect with ordinary human experiences.	p. 136
Descriptive vs. Explanatory Language	Poetry as a form of description that elicits immediate understanding rather than abstract, systematic explanation.	p. 145

Contribution of “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri to Literary Theory/Theories

Theory/Field	Contribution	Reference in Article
Romantic Literary Theory	Altieri positions Wordsworth’s Preface as a bridge between empiricism and idealism, emphasizing poetry as a natural activity that reveals shared human experiences.	p. 123: “Wordsworth invites us to rethink our familiar dichotomies.”
Ordinary Language Philosophy	Draws parallels between Wordsworth and Wittgenstein, arguing that language’s meaning arises from its use in shared human activities rather than abstract representation.	p. 128: “Wordsworth, at least in the theory of the ‘Preface,’ may be considered less a poet of nature than the poet of philosophical grammar.”
Phenomenology and Hermeneutics	Challenges interpretative approaches by emphasizing Wordsworth’s focus on immediate recognition and the lived experience of poetic language.	p. 129: “Interpretation is a second-order process which requires some first-order awareness.”
Ethics of Poetry	Proposes that poetry fosters communal values by deepening sympathies and promoting shared human experiences, rejecting the solipsism of subjective interpretation.	p. 136: “The essential test of good poetry…making them aware of what they share with others and thus deepening their sympathies.”
Memory Studies	Explores Wordsworth’s use of memory as a naturalistic alternative to idealist imagination, enabling reconciliation of subjective experience with communal significance.	p. 137: “Memory reconciles subjective and objective and balances intense participation with lawful reflection.”
Post-Romantic Criticism	Critiques idealist readings (e.g., Geoffrey Hartman, Paul de Man), advocating for Wordsworth’s naturalist epistemology and rejection of nature-mind dichotomies.	p. 138: “De Man’s world, like Sartre’s, is Nietzsche’s without Nietzsche’s superman.”
Aesthetics of Pleasure	Links Wordsworth’s poetic theory to Kant’s Critique of Judgment, arguing that aesthetic pleasure ties subjective experiences to universal human agreements.	p. 133: “Pleasure serves primarily as a psychological correlate…measuring the success of poetry as significant immediate knowledge.”
Cultural Role of Poetry	Redefines the poet as a “culture hero” who preserves latent moral forms within ordinary life, contrasting with Promethean notions of creativity.	p. 135: “The poet can be a culture hero precisely because he understands that there are latent in his culture…moral forms worth recognizing.”
Epistemology and Literary Studies	Frames Wordsworth’s poetics as a form of epistemological inquiry into how shared meanings and values emerge in cultural and natural contexts.	p. 128: “Meaning depends not on individual acts of mind but on the actions we learn to perform in language.”
Rejection of Gothicism	Critiques the Gothic tradition’s extreme emotionality and disconnect from ordinary life, advocating for a poetry grounded in shared human feelings and experiences.	p. 136: “Gothic literature…fails to provide real connections with people’s lives.”

Examples of Critiques Through “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

Literary Work	Critique Through Altieri’s Reading of Wordsworth’s “Preface”	Key Reference in Article
Wordsworth’s The Prelude	The Prelude exemplifies Wordsworth’s naturalist poetics by integrating memory, loss, and shared human experience, avoiding idealist abstractions while grounding itself in natural patterns.	p. 136: “The Prelude reconciles subjective and objective… while eschewing interpretation.”
Coleridge’s Biographia Literaria	Critiqued for its idealist emphasis on imagination as transcendent; Altieri contrasts this with Wordsworth’s focus on memory as a bridge between associationism and idealism.	p. 137: “Where Coleridge used memory to refute associationism… Wordsworth used it to construct a bridge.”
Scott’s Waverley	Criticized for focusing on descriptive inventories rather than meaningful engagement with memory and natural patterns, leading to superficial representation rather than deeper poetic insight.	p. 137: “Scott’s method… fails to evoke the ideal and essential truth of the scene.”
Mallarmé’s Poetry	Altieri contrasts Mallarmé’s self-conscious linguistic complexity with Wordsworth’s pursuit of shared, immediate recognition of human experience through natural and cultural forms.	p. 145: “Mallarmé opens the realm of possibilities…but contrasts against natural procedures.”

Criticism Against “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

• Overemphasis on Naturalism: Critics argue that Altieri’s emphasis on Wordsworth’s naturalism risks oversimplifying the tension between nature and imagination in Wordsworth’s work. The poetic imagination often transcends the naturalistic framework Altieri advocates.
  • Reference: Altieri’s critique of Coleridge’s idealism as less relevant overlooks the philosophical depth of imagination’s role in Romanticism (p. 137).
• Reduction of Philosophical Complexity: Altieri aligns Wordsworth with Wittgenstein and Whitehead, but some critics suggest this alignment oversimplifies Wordsworth’s epistemological and metaphysical frameworks, reducing them to mere practical philosophy.
  • Reference: The interpretation of “repeated experience and regular feelings” as philosophical grammar ignores broader metaphysical implications (p. 126).
• Neglect of Romantic Subjectivism: By focusing on shared cultural and natural patterns, Altieri minimizes the Romantic movement’s intrinsic focus on individual subjectivity and its complex role in shaping poetic meaning.
  • Reference: Altieri contrasts Wordsworth’s memory-focused poetics with Mallarmé’s self-reflective style but underestimates the value of individualism in Romantic poetry (p. 145).
• Limited Treatment of Coleridgean Thought: Altieri’s criticism of Coleridge’s idealism as overly abstract disregards the nuanced interaction between Wordsworth and Coleridge’s complementary theories, particularly on imagination and memory.
  • Reference: Altieri’s claim that Coleridge’s abstraction detracts from practical application fails to engage with the productive dialogic tension between their views (p. 137).
• Inadequate Address of Poetic Diction: Altieri’s naturalist focus undervalues Wordsworth’s debates on poetic language, particularly his critiques of artificial poetic diction and its role in shaping emotional immediacy.
  • Reference: The analysis of Wordsworth’s preference for natural language overlooks its artistic innovation beyond cultural habits (p. 135).
• Selective Engagement with Contemporary Theories: Altieri critiques de Man’s deconstructionism and Hartman’s apocalyptic idealism but does not fully address their contributions to understanding Romantic irony and self-awareness in Wordsworth’s poetry.
  • Reference: Altieri’s opposition to deconstruction does not adequately consider the insights it provides into Romantic self-reflexivity (p. 139).
• Oversimplification of Memory’s Role: While Altieri emphasizes memory’s role in Wordsworth’s naturalism, he may overstate its universality, neglecting how Wordsworth also uses memory for complex, introspective purposes.
  • Reference: Memory as “the mental analogy of natural recurrence” (p. 137) is seen as reductive by some critics who highlight Wordsworth’s more intricate psychological use of memory.
• Ambiguity in Practical Implications: Altieri’s argument for Wordsworth’s naturalism as an alternative to contemporary idealism or deconstruction lacks clarity in its practical application for literary criticism beyond Wordsworth’s specific context.
  • Reference: Altieri’s concept of “poetic grammar” as a critique of representation lacks concrete methodological guidance (p. 126).

Representative Quotations from “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Wittgenstein helps clarify Wordsworth’s thinking… to separate Wordsworth’s claim for a poetics of ‘the natural’ from his more sentimental insistence on nature as a source of meaning and value.”	Altieri aligns Wordsworth’s ideas with Wittgenstein’s philosophy to emphasize that Wordsworth’s concept of “natural” poetry is grounded in linguistic and cultural practices rather than mystical associations with nature, offering a practical framework for poetic meaning.
“Wordsworth invites us to rethink our familiar dichotomies, not to argue about which of them better fits his work.”	This highlights Wordsworth’s unique position in literary theory, where he transcends traditional debates like empiricism versus idealism, suggesting a synthesis that reflects the creative potentials of poetic imagination.
“Meaning depends not on individual acts of mind but on the actions we learn to perform in language and learn to recognize as significant when performed by others.”	Altieri echoes Wordsworth’s view of language as a communal, cultural activity, suggesting that meaning emerges from shared human practices rather than isolated intellectual constructs, reinforcing the poet’s role in reflecting collective experience.
“Memory is the mental analogy of natural recurrence.”	Altieri interprets Wordsworth’s concept of memory as a naturalistic alternative to idealist philosophy, where memory reflects the lawful patterns of nature, enabling poetry to connect subjective experience to universal rhythms and values.
“Wordsworth consciously tries to avoid the problematic of interpretation in poems like ‘Michael’ and The Prelude by dramatizing the reasons for writing the work within the poem.”	Altieri points out that Wordsworth integrates his theoretical concerns into his poetic practice, using narrative and dramatic contexts to bridge interpretation and direct experience, making the act of reading an extension of lived reality.
“The essential test of good poetry, Wordsworth argues, is the power it confers on its readers by making them aware of what they share with others and thus deepening their sympathies.”	This captures Wordsworth’s moral vision for poetry, emphasizing its role in fostering human connection and empathy, contrasting with more individualistic or abstract artistic pursuits.
“Pleasure, then, for Wordsworth serves primarily as a psychological correlate both measuring the success of poetry as significant immediate knowledge and transforming knowledge into a capacity to recognize the communal implications of that fit.”	Altieri explores Wordsworth’s integration of pleasure into poetic theory, presenting it as a sign of poetry’s truth and its ability to foster emotional and communal understanding, blending aesthetic and ethical dimensions.
“Wordsworth’s memory reconciles subjective and objective and balances intense participation with lawful reflection.”	Altieri argues that Wordsworth’s use of memory bridges individual emotional depth with universal structures, providing a grounded yet expansive framework for interpreting human experience.
“Wordsworth uses it [memory] to construct a bridge between associationism and idealism.”	Memory serves as a mediating force in Wordsworth’s theory, allowing the poet to combine the empirical grounding of experience with the transformative power of imagination, offering a balanced philosophical approach.
“To have a doctrine that explains death, he surrenders the fullness of life.”	Altieri critiques Wordsworth’s later shift towards a more conservative and explanatory poetic vision, contrasting it with the dynamic and life-affirming insights of his earlier naturalistic and communal framework as expressed in The Prelude.

Suggested Readings: “Wordsworth’s “Preface” as Literary Theory” Charles Altieri

1. Altieri, Charles. “Wordsworth’s ‘Preface’ as Literary Theory.” Criticism, vol. 18, no. 2, 1976, pp. 122–46. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23100083. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
2. Altieri, Charles. “Wittgenstein on Consciousness and Language: A Challenge to Derridean Literary Theory.” MLN, vol. 91, no. 6, 1976, pp. 1397–423. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2907143. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
3. Hayden, John 0. “Wordsworth and Coleridge: Shattered Mirrors, Shining Lamps?” The Wordsworth Circle, vol. 12, no. 1, 1981, pp. 71–81. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24040902. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Introduction: “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

“The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook, first appeared in the journal New Literary History, explores the critical evolution of literary theory, particularly focusing on the contentious relationship between texts and their contexts. Colebrook examines how deconstruction—initially criticized for being overly abstract—challenges the notion of anchoring texts to static historical or cultural milieus. She argues that contemporary contexts of reading often render texts enigmatic or detached from their original conditions of meaning. This essay critiques recent “after theory” movements, such as literary Darwinism, for overly simplifying texts as products of biological or historical imperatives, thus neglecting the inherent multiplicity and decontextualizing forces of textuality. Colebrook’s work is pivotal in contemporary literary theory, as it reaffirms the necessity of theoretical critique in a world where archival and interpretive contexts are increasingly fragmented and unstable.

Summary of “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

• Critique of Theory and Contextualism
  • Literary theory, particularly deconstruction, has been criticized for its perceived detachment from historical and cultural contexts (“Theory was deemed to be irresponsibly abstract or formalist in its detachment of the text from context”, Colebrook, p. 702).
  • Scholars like John Searle and M. H. Abrams argued that theory undermined the determinacy of meaning by divorcing texts from their contexts (“With philosophers such as John Searle correcting literary theorists for thinking that there might be something like ‘meaning’ that could be found outside everyday usage”, Colebrook, p. 702).
• Necessity of Theory in Modern Contexts
  • Colebrook argues that theory is increasingly relevant today as texts often lack clear historical or cultural grounding in contemporary readings (“We are now facing a world in which there may well be an archive without any possibility of retrieving sense”, Colebrook, p. 703).
  • She suggests that deconstruction enables a profound understanding of the decontextualization of texts, rather than simply rejecting historical or political grounding (“Theory is necessary in today’s context… because we are now facing a world in which there may well be an archive without any possibility of retrieving sense”, Colebrook, p. 703).
• Theory’s Role in Understanding Textuality
  • Deconstruction challenges the idea that texts can be fully contained within fixed contexts, emphasizing the dynamic and generative nature of textuality (“A text cannot be contained within some context of safe, historical, and guaranteed astute reading”, Colebrook, p. 702).
• Criticism of Anti-Theory Movements
  • Colebrook critiques movements like literary Darwinism that attempt to ground texts in life or evolutionary frameworks, as they overlook the multiplicity of meanings and the destabilizing potential of texts (“The most recent attacks on ‘theory’… argue that it is misguided to see texts as anything other than expressions of a purposive life”, Colebrook, p. 709).
• Multiplicity and Historicity of Contexts
  • She emphasizes that contexts themselves are complex and evolving, and any attempt to return to a “pure” or “original” context oversimplifies the interpretive process (“There is no such thing as an original context”, Colebrook, p. 712).
  • Colebrook asserts that deconstruction reveals the paradox that contexts are both necessary for meaning and inherently unstable (“The very concept of context belies the force of concepts, for concepts cannot be exhausted by the context from which they emerge”, Colebrook, p. 716).
• Intersection of Text, Concept, and Life
  • Drawing on Derrida, Deleuze, and Guattari, Colebrook argues that texts, concepts, and contexts are deeply interconnected and inseparable from the broader forces of life and thought (“Concepts open and destroy contexts, enabling modes of thought, problem posing, and orientation”, Colebrook, p. 716).
• Implications for Reading and Interpretation
  • Colebrook contends that reading is a creative act that generates new contexts, rather than restoring texts to their “original” settings (“We read precisely because there is no such thing as context… each text in every reading demands a created context”, Colebrook, p. 713).
  • This understanding challenges conventional approaches to historicism and promotes a more dynamic engagement with texts and their meanings.
• The Future of Theory and Context
  • Colebrook concludes that theory is essential for navigating a world where the traditional contexts of texts are decaying or disappearing (“Theory… is exactly what is required when the very contexts that have enabled a certain archive to be read can neither be guaranteed to survive nor justified”, Colebrook, p. 703).

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

Theoretical Term/Concept	Explanation	Reference
Context	The historical, cultural, or social environment in which a text is produced or interpreted.	“A text cannot be contained within some context of safe, historical, and guaranteed astute reading” (p. 702).
Deconstruction	A theoretical approach that questions the relationship between text, meaning, and context, focusing on instability.	“Theory assumes that a text is something that may or may not be related to intention” (p. 703).
Radical Decontextualization	The idea that texts can exist without fixed or original contexts, making their meanings enigmatic.	“There is no such thing as an original context” (p. 712).
Multiplicity of Meaning	The concept that texts allow for multiple interpretations, not confined by a single historical or cultural milieu.	“Theory… argues for multiple readings” (p. 702).
Historicity	The understanding that meaning emerges through historical processes and contexts, yet these are inherently unstable.	“Historicity… posits a horizon of humanity” (p. 717).
Materiality of Texts	The notion that the physical form of texts influences their interpretation but cannot limit their meaning.	“The text is a singular physical object that is nothing more than itself” (p. 707).
Concept (Deleuze and Guattari)	Concepts are intensive, generative, and not reducible to fixed meanings or historical circumstances.	“Concepts open and destroy contexts” (p. 716).
Mal d’archive (Archive Fever)	Derrida’s term for the paradoxical relationship between preserving texts and their inevitable decontextualization.	“The very mark or trace… always and already tears any closed context from itself” (p. 706).
Stratigraphic Reading	An approach that examines how texts create and transform contexts over time.	“Texts do not ‘have’ contexts but nevertheless require some ideal ‘missing’ people” (p. 703).
Posthumanism	A perspective that considers texts and archives beyond human-centered contexts and interpretations.	“Imagine the archives of human writing continuing to exist in radically inhuman contexts” (p. 703).
Literary Darwinism	A critical approach that grounds texts in evolutionary and biological frameworks.	“The context of evolving life… must guide reading” (p. 709).
Repeatability of Sense	The idea that texts must be intelligible to readers across different contexts and times.	“A text can only be read… if it is readable for another” (p. 707).
Deterritorialization	Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of how texts disrupt fixed meanings and extend beyond their immediate contexts.	“Texts are necessarily deterritorializing” (p. 707).
Interpretosis	A critique of overemphasizing interpretation, assuming texts are always mediated through human signifying systems.	“The logic of the signifier leads to ‘interpretosis’” (p. 717).
Anarchic Historicity	The notion that history and meaning are open-ended, resisting closure and fixed narratives.	“Anarchic genesis that cannot be read as a history of self-creation” (p. 717).

Contribution of “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook to Literary Theory/Theories

Literary Theory	Contribution of the Essay	Reference
Deconstruction	Challenges criticisms of deconstruction by emphasizing its role in addressing the instability of meaning and context.	“Theory… argues for multiple readings, not because it abandons context but because it confronts its instability” (p. 702).
New Historicism	Critiques simplistic historical contextualization, promoting a more nuanced and fragmented view of historical influence.	“Contexts are multiple and complex—no longer something like a Weltanschauung or unified lived background” (p. 708).
Posthumanism	Extends literary theory to consider texts in radically inhuman contexts, beyond human-centered historical frameworks.	“We are now facing a world… where archives may exist without the possibility of retrieving sense” (p. 703).
Literary Materialism	Highlights the physicality and materiality of texts while asserting their capacity to transcend immediate historical contexts.	“The material object of the text is a split matter… singular yet open to abstract readings” (p. 707).
Literary Darwinism	Critiques Literary Darwinism’s reductionist approach that anchors texts solely in evolutionary or biological imperatives.	“Texts should not simply be expressions of purposive life… such grounding weakens the force of textual multiplicity” (p. 709).
Reader-Response Theory	Emphasizes the role of readers in creating contexts for texts, challenging the notion of fixed or “original” interpretations.	“Each text in every reading demands a created context” (p. 713).
Structuralism and Poststructuralism	Advocates for the idea that texts derive meaning from their systemic relations, not just their historical grounding.	“A text cannot be reduced to the immediate context of communication” (p. 704).
Archive Theory	Explores Derrida’s concept of mal d’archive, focusing on how archives generate and disrupt meaning over time.	“The very mark or trace that would seem to draw the text back… always and already tears any closed context from itself” (p. 706).
Conceptual Philosophy	Applies Deleuze and Guattari’s notion of concepts as intensive, creating orientations for thought rather than being fixed.	“Concepts open and destroy contexts… enabling modes of thought that cannot be reduced to contexts” (p. 716).
Pragmatism	Critiques overly pragmatic approaches to textual interpretation that prioritize immediate social acts over theoretical depth.	“Pragmatism reduces texts to their initial context of desires and purposes, missing their broader theoretical implications” (p. 708).

Summary of Contributions:

• Colebrook’s essay revitalizes deconstruction by highlighting its necessity in a fragmented and posthuman world where traditional contexts decay.
• She critiques historicist and pragmatic frameworks for oversimplifying the relationship between texts and their socio-historical conditions.
• By engaging with conceptual philosophy and materiality, she bridges literary theory with broader philosophical inquiries into meaning and context.
• Her work directly challenges reductive approaches like Literary Darwinism and proposes a renewed focus on the generative and destabilizing potential of texts.

Examples of Critiques Through “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

Literary Work	Critique Through Colebrook’s Lens	Relevant Concept/Reference
A Slumber Did My Spirit Steal (William Wordsworth)	Highlights the fragility of contexts; questions whether meaning persists when historical or cultural context erodes.	“Are we so far away… from a posthuman world in which material instances of the archive remain, and yet the ‘original’ context… has disappeared?” (p. 703).
The Waste Land (T.S. Eliot)	Explores the difficulty of teaching Eliot’s highly intertextual poem in the absence of its original cultural references.	“How long can we as teachers of English struggle to give students the context they would need to read The Waste Land?” (p. 712).
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (William Blake)	Critiques the singularity of Blake’s style, arguing that the specificity of his work opens it to decontextualized interpretations over time.	“Blake’s very singularity… produces works of such unique discursive difference that they appear nonreferential, mystical, or enigmatic” (p. 712).
Glamorama (Bret Easton Ellis)	Reflects on the hyper-contextual references in Ellis’s work, suggesting future readers may find the text inscrutable as contexts decay.	“Would not any future reader… encountering Glamorama… not be closer to Knapp and Michaels’s perplexed beachgoer encountering seemingly impossible signifying marks?” (p. 703).

Summary of Critiques:

• Wordsworth: Examined for its potential loss of meaning in a posthuman, decontextualized context.
• Eliot: Highlighted as an example of the pedagogical challenge of preserving interpretive frameworks in a fragmented literary landscape.
• Blake: Analyzed for the paradox where specificity and idiosyncrasy lead to broader interpretive ambiguity.
• Ellis: Critiqued for reliance on ephemeral cultural references, posing questions about the text’s future readability.

Criticism Against “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

• Overemphasis on Decontextualization
  • Critics argue that Colebrook’s focus on decontextualization undermines the value of historical and cultural frameworks, which are essential for understanding many literary texts.
• Neglect of Pragmatic Interpretations
  • By critiquing pragmatic approaches, Colebrook is said to dismiss the practical and immediate socio-political significance of texts, which can limit the applicability of her arguments to real-world contexts.
• Abstract and Elitist Framework
  • Her reliance on theoretical concepts like those of Derrida and Deleuze may render her work inaccessible or overly abstract for broader audiences and practical literary analysis.
• Dismissal of Historicism
  • Colebrook’s critique of historicism has been viewed as reductive, failing to acknowledge the nuanced ways in which historicism incorporates textual multiplicity and complexity.
• Limited Engagement with Biological or Evolutionary Criticism
  • Her rejection of Literary Darwinism has been criticized for not sufficiently engaging with the potential insights such approaches might offer regarding the universal aspects of human creativity and storytelling.
• Overgeneralization of Textual Multiplicity
  • The claim that all texts inherently destabilize their contexts may overgeneralize and neglect cases where specific historical or cultural grounding is integral to interpretation.
• Potential Inconsistencies in Theoretical Applications
  • Some critics highlight that Colebrook’s advocacy for the dynamic and generative nature of texts might conflict with her critique of pragmatism and contextual grounding.
• Reduction of Political and Social Dimensions
  • Critics argue that her theoretical focus may sideline the political and social dimensions of literature, which are crucial for understanding the impact of many works.
• Insufficient Examples of Contemporary Texts
  • While Colebrook addresses some modern works, critics suggest that her essay would benefit from a broader analysis of contemporary texts to support her claims about decontextualization in the current literary landscape.

Representative Quotations from “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“A text cannot be contained within some context of safe, historical, and guaranteed astute reading.” (p. 702)	Highlights the instability of contextual readings and critiques the notion that texts are securely anchored to specific historical or cultural frameworks.
“We are now facing a world in which there may well be an archive without any possibility of retrieving sense.” (p. 703)	Reflects on the posthuman condition, where texts might exist in a context-less future, questioning the reliance on historical or human-based interpretive norms.
“Theory… is exactly what is required when the very contexts that have enabled a certain archive to be read can neither be guaranteed to survive nor justified.” (p. 703)	Asserts the importance of theory in addressing the contemporary challenges of interpreting decontextualized or fragmented archives.
“Deconstruction was criticized for supposedly reducing ‘everything’ to text, but understood text in a highly literary or linguistic manner.” (p. 708)	Responds to critiques of deconstruction, clarifying its broader philosophical implications beyond textual reductionism.
“There is no such thing as an original context.” (p. 712)	Challenges the idea that contexts are stable or original, suggesting instead that they are continually constructed and reconstructed through interpretation.
“Each text in every reading demands a created context: what this text would mean in the absence of its ‘original’ readers.” (p. 713)	Emphasizes the generative nature of reading, where new contexts are actively created rather than recovered.
“Concepts enable contexts by creating circulating terms irreducible to speakers.” (p. 716)	Draws on Deleuze and Guattari to highlight the role of concepts in transcending and reshaping contexts, fostering new interpretive possibilities.
“The very force that enables a context is also context-destructive.” (p. 717)	Reflects on the paradox that the creation of a context inherently disrupts its stability, opening texts to reinterpretation and recontextualization.
“Blake’s very singularity… tends to produce works of such unique discursive difference that they appear nonreferential, mystical, or enigmatic.” (p. 712)	Uses William Blake as an example to discuss how singular and context-bound works paradoxically invite open-ended interpretations.
“If there can be something like a literary text… then this is because of the necessary anarchism of text.” (p. 711)	Argues that the very nature of texts resists confinement, emphasizing their potential for decontextualization and interpretive freedom.

Suggested Readings: “The Context of Humanism” by Claire Colebrook

1. Colebrook, Claire. “The Context of Humanism.” New Literary History, vol. 42, no. 4, 2011, pp. 701–18. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41328993. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
2. Tucker, Herbert F. “Introduction.” New Literary History, vol. 42, no. 4, 2011, pp. vii–xii. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41328985. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
3. HEIDEPRIEM, SAMUEL. “Free Play in German Idealism and Poststructuralism.” Play in the Age of Goethe: Theories, Narratives, and Practices of Play around 1800, edited by Edgar Landgraf and Elliott Schreiber, Bucknell University Press, 2020, pp. 48–72. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1nj348t.5. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Introduction: “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

“Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann first appeared in Christianity and Literature, Vol. 53, No. 4 (Summer 2004). This pivotal work critiques the stagnation of postmodernism in literary theory, asserting that its inability to generate novel interpretative frameworks signals its decline. Zimmermann argues for a renaissance in literary studies through a neo-humanistic lens, deeply rooted in ontology, humanism, and theology. His approach transcends traditional postmodern skepticism by integrating Incarnational theology, offering a framework that reconciles the ethical imperatives of humanism with the nuanced complexities of literary interpretation. This work is significant for its bold reimagining of literary theory, encouraging scholars to blend foundational hermeneutics with a return to human-centered reading practices, thereby reinvigorating the ethical and educational essence of literature.

Summary of “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

Term/Concept	Definition/Description	Context in the Article
Postmodernism	A critical movement that challenges grand narratives, emphasizes difference, and denies stable meanings.	Critiqued as having exhausted its potential for innovation and become formulaic in its interpretations. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 495)
Humanism	A philosophical tradition focused on individual dignity, freedom, and the pursuit of universal values.	Advocated as a necessary framework to revitalize literary theory, though it requires reevaluation. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 496)
Neo-Humanism	A revised form of humanism integrating postmodern insights, hermeneutics, and theological grounding.	Proposed as the future direction for theory to balance ethical transcendence and human dignity. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 511)
Hermeneutics	The art and theory of interpretation, emphasizing the historical and contextual nature of understanding.	Central to Zimmermann’s argument for grounding literary theory in interpretive and ontological frameworks. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 499)
Hermeneutic Ontology	A philosophical perspective that combines interpretation with being, focusing on the interplay of history and self-knowledge.	Suggested as a foundation for a humanism that integrates ethics and historical understanding. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 500)
Ontology of Difference	A model of being that emphasizes the distinctiveness and relationality of entities, grounded in theological frameworks like the Trinity.	Proposed as a way to reconcile individuality with ethical universality. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 513)
Incarnational Theology	A Christian theological concept emphasizing God’s embodiment in human form, serving as a model for ethical and interpretive transcendence.	Used to provide a theological grounding for neo-humanism and ethical self-knowledge. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 513)
Ethical Transcendence	The idea that ethics must go beyond individual or historical limitations to address universal concerns.	Grounded in the Incarnation and theological ethics, offering a critique of postmodern relativism. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 505)
Aesthetics in Hermeneutics	The role of beauty and form in apprehending truth and self-knowledge through interpretive engagement.	Positioned as integral to humanistic reflection and literary theory. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 516)
Critique of Enlightenment Rationality	A challenge to the universal reason and objectivity championed by Enlightenment humanism.	Zimmermann argues for a deeper, historically aware understanding of reason and self-knowledge. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 497)
Deconstruction	A postmodern approach to interpretation that reveals hidden assumptions and contradictions in texts.	Recognized for its contributions but critiqued for its inability to address ethical and universal concerns. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 503)
Self-Knowledge	The pursuit of understanding oneself in relation to history, culture, and ethical transcendence.	Presented as the ultimate goal of literary theory and a defining feature of neo-humanism. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 511)
Transcendence and Immanence	The balance between higher, universal truths (transcendence) and their presence within historical contexts (immanence).	Explored as central tensions in developing a future literary theory. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 513)
Interdisciplinarity	The integration of multiple academic fields, including literature, philosophy, and theology, in theoretical discussions.	Advocated as essential for revitalizing literary theory and addressing existential questions. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 517)
Foundational Questions	Fundamental inquiries into the nature of being, knowledge, and interpretation.	Argued as necessary for the future of literary theory beyond postmodernism. (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 499)

Contribution of “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann to Literary Theory/Theories

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1. Postmodernism

• Critique of Exhaustion: Zimmermann highlights the stagnation of postmodernism, pointing to its inability to offer new and engaging readings of texts. He critiques its tendency to reduce interpretation to ideological frameworks.
  • Key Reference: Postmodernism’s deconstructionist radicalism became formulaic and repetitive, undermining its initial appeal for innovation (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 495).
• Legacy Recognition: Acknowledges postmodernism’s positive contributions, particularly in revealing the polyphonic and unstable nature of meaning in texts.
  • Key Reference: Derrida’s notion of jeu (play) validated the text’s multiplicity and questioned “easy meanings” (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 497).

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2. Hermeneutics

• Renewed Hermeneutic Focus: Proposes hermeneutics as a foundational approach for literary theory beyond postmodernism, emphasizing the historical and interpretive nature of understanding.
  • Key Reference: Interpretation should involve a fusion of horizons—integrating the historical context of the reader and the text (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 499).
• Hermeneutic Ontology: Suggests grounding literary theory in an ontological framework that connects interpretation to being and ethics.
  • Key Reference: “Reading as hermeneutics means resisting the assumption that close reading comes before interpretation” (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 505).

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3. Humanism

• Neo-Humanism: Advocates for a reimagined humanism that integrates postmodern insights while addressing its critiques. Zimmermann positions this as central to literary theory’s future.
  • Key Reference: Neo-humanism involves self-knowledge as interpretation and acknowledges the ethical dimensions of literature (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 511).
• Critique of Traditional Humanism: Rejects Enlightenment rationalism and universalist humanism for their inability to address the complexity of human knowing.
  • Key Reference: Traditional humanism’s rationalist epistemology failed to bring peace and progress (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 496).

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4. Ethical Literary Theory

• Ethical Transcendence in Reading: Proposes that ethics, grounded in theological frameworks such as the Incarnation, should inform literary theory and practice.
  • Key Reference: Ethics is central to interpretation and self-knowledge, offering a normative foundation for understanding texts (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 505).
• Critique of Ideological Criticism: Argues that postmodern ideological criticism undermines genuine ethical engagement by reducing texts to predetermined frameworks.
  • Key Reference: Theory became self-referential, using texts to confirm ideological assumptions (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 497).

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5. Deconstruction

• Constructive Application of Deconstruction: While critiquing deconstruction’s aporias, Zimmermann recognizes its value in uncovering the complexities and inherent contradictions of texts.
  • Key Reference: Deconstruction validates the irreducible surplus of meaning and protects texts from reductive interpretations (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 503).
• Ethical Reassessment: Suggests that deconstruction should integrate a clearer ethical orientation to be more applicable to contemporary theoretical concerns.
  • Key Reference: Derrida’s emphasis on responsibility and ethics aligns with the humanist project when reframed in a hermeneutical context (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 503).

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6. Interdisciplinary Approaches

• Integration of Theology and Philosophy: Positions theology, particularly Incarnational theology, as a critical lens for understanding transcendence, ethics, and human existence in literature.
  • Key Reference: The Incarnation models ethical transcendence and communication without loss of difference (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 513).
• Dialogue with Natural Sciences: Calls for literary theory to engage with scientific insights, such as biology, to address broader questions of humanity and existence.
  • Key Reference: Incorporates evolutionary perspectives while maintaining an ontological grounding for ethics (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 512).

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7. Aesthetic Theory

• Role of Beauty in Interpretation: Argues for aesthetics as essential to self-knowledge, linking beauty and truth through hermeneutics and theology.
  • Key Reference: The experience of beauty transcends rationalism and materialism, providing access to deeper truths (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 516).
• Inclusion of Violence and the Sublime: Suggests that true aesthetics must grapple with both beauty and disfigurement, as modeled by the Cross in Incarnational theology.
  • Key Reference: Art that ignores the demonic or disfigured risks becoming irrelevant (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 516).

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8. Critical Theory

• Foundational Questions: Reintroduces ontological and existential inquiries as essential to literary theory, countering postmodernism’s dismissal of universals.
  • Key Reference: Questions like “What are human beings for?” must underpin any theory of literature (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 501).
• Marxist Humanism and Social Justice: Echoes Terry Eagleton’s call for theory to engage with history and politics while grounding ethics in transcendence.
  • Key Reference: Marxist ethics require grounding in an ontology that recognizes human dignity (Zimmermann, 2004, p. 502).

Examples of Critiques Through “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

Literary Work	Focus of Critique	Critical Insight Inspired by Zimmermann	Relevant Theoretical Framework
James Joyce’s Ulysses	The role of subjective consciousness and historical situatedness in interpreting modern identity.	Zimmermann’s emphasis on hermeneutics as historical interpretation critiques the fragmented identity in Ulysses, suggesting that its polyphonic narrative reflects the limits of Enlightenment rationalism.	Hermeneutic ontology: emphasizes historical existence and the fusion of horizons in understanding literary texts.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved	Representation of trauma and ethical responsibility in addressing marginalized voices.	Aligning with Zimmermann’s advocacy for an ethics of reading, Beloved illustrates how literary texts demand an ethical encounter with the “Other,” resonating with Levinasian transcendence and Incarnational theology.	Ethical literary theory: stresses the necessity of ethical transcendence and the humanization of marginalized narratives.
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness	The critique of colonialism and the deconstruction of Enlightenment values in Western imperialism.	Zimmermann’s call for neo-humanism critiques the dehumanizing ideologies of colonialism, as portrayed in Heart of Darkness, urging a reconsideration of human dignity through a theological-ethical framework.	Neo-humanism: integrates theological insights to challenge oppressive ideological structures.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein	Exploration of scientific rationalism and its consequences for human ethics and dignity.	Zimmermann’s critique of ungrounded Enlightenment rationalism provides a lens to analyze Frankenstein, emphasizing the ethical risks of unchecked scientific progress without ontological reflection on human dignity.	Ontology of difference: underscores the relational and ethical dimensions of humanism over reductive scientific rationalism.

Criticism Against “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

• Over-Reliance on Theological Frameworks
  Zimmermann’s insistence on the necessity of Incarnational theology as a grounding for literary theory may alienate secular scholars who seek non-religious ontological foundations.
• Neglect of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Insights
  While Zimmermann calls for interdisciplinary approaches, his work minimally incorporates insights from natural sciences, cognitive studies, or digital humanities, which are increasingly relevant to literary theory.
• Idealization of Humanism
  Critics argue that Zimmermann’s neo-humanist approach may romanticize humanist ideals, failing to adequately address the historical shortcomings of humanism, such as its complicity in colonial and patriarchal systems.
• Ambiguity in Practical Application
  The work’s theoretical focus on hermeneutics, ethics, and ontology lacks clear guidelines for practical application in literary criticism, leaving readers uncertain about how to use these frameworks in analyzing specific texts.
• Dismissal of Postmodern Contributions
  Zimmermann’s critique of postmodernism as exhausted overlooks its ongoing contributions, such as the critique of power structures and its impact on postcolonial and gender studies.
• Inaccessibility for Non-Specialists
  The dense philosophical language and reliance on thinkers like Heidegger and Levinas may make the text inaccessible to those without a strong background in continental philosophy.
• Insufficient Engagement with Global Perspectives
  The work’s emphasis on Western traditions, especially European philosophy and theology, may exclude non-Western perspectives, limiting its global applicability.
• Tension Between Theoretical and Ethical Goals
  Zimmermann’s attempt to integrate ethical transcendence and hermeneutic ontology risks creating theoretical contradictions, particularly in balancing relativism and universalism in his critique of postmodernism.
• Potential Nostalgia for Pre-Postmodern Theories
  By advocating a return to neo-humanism, Zimmermann may be perceived as nostalgically clinging to outdated models of reading, rather than proposing a forward-looking alternative.

Representative Quotations from “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Postmodernism as a movement of renewal has run its course.”	Zimmermann critiques postmodernism for its inability to generate innovative readings, arguing that its potential has been exhausted. This serves as a springboard for his proposition of moving beyond postmodernism towards a humanist ontology.
“The future of theory depends on our ability to define this neo-humanism ontologically by acknowledging the hermeneutic nature of all self-knowledge and the end of metaphysics.”	This quotation underscores Zimmermann’s central argument: that the renewal of literary theory requires a fusion of hermeneutics, humanism, and ontology. It reflects his emphasis on moving beyond both metaphysical absolutism and postmodern relativism through an ethically and ontologically grounded neo-humanism.
“Theory’s radicalism is limited by the undeconstructable trinity of author, text, and reader that governs all human communication.”	Zimmermann challenges postmodern theory’s claim of radical innovation, suggesting it fails to escape the basic framework of human communication. This critique aims to expose the limitations of postmodernism in addressing the core relationships in literary studies.
“The irony is that Theory’s suspicion of ideologies results in blindness to its own interpretive frameworks.”	By highlighting this paradox, Zimmermann critiques postmodern theory for failing to acknowledge its own ideological underpinnings, which undermines its claims of innovation and ideological neutrality.
“Reading is the slow movement ‘towards realization, meaning, truth, a transformative ethical result.'”	Here, Zimmermann supports the idea that literary theory should return to ethical and humanist goals, framing reading as a process of personal and ethical transformation rather than a purely deconstructive exercise.
“Humanism means that the reader is a stable self but open to change.”	This statement encapsulates Zimmermann’s vision of a renewed humanism, where the reader retains an identity but is adaptable and capable of growth through engagement with literature.
“The Incarnation establishes truth as ethical not only because it occurs in social terms but also because it offers the ultimate norm for human subjectivity and moral action.”	This illustrates Zimmermann’s theological foundation, asserting that Christian theology can offer an ethical grounding for literary theory, reconciling transcendence and immanence in understanding texts.
“We cannot simply return to traditional liberal or Christian humanism; however much we desire such a homecoming, none of its recent advocates provides an ontological justification for this move.”	Zimmermann critiques nostalgic calls for a return to older forms of humanism, advocating instead for a theologically grounded neo-humanism that engages contemporary challenges in literary theory.
“Self-knowledge, the kind of truth conveyed in the humanities, is always interpretation and never unmediated intuition.”	This statement emphasizes the hermeneutic nature of literary theory, where understanding is mediated through interpretation rather than immediate insight, reinforcing the need for an ontologically grounded approach to reading.
“Theology provides an interpretive model that allows for the potential value of all human self-expression and that accommodates all three axioms outlined above.”	Zimmermann argues that theology, particularly Incarnational theology, can offer a robust framework for integrating ethics, hermeneutics, and aesthetics in literary theory, bridging the gap between traditional humanism and postmodern concerns.

Suggested Readings: “Quo Vadis?: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism” by Jens Zimmermann

1. Zimmermann, Jens. “Quo vadis?: Literary theory beyond postmodernism.” Christianity & Literature 53.4 (2004): 495-519.
2. Zimmermann, Jens. “‘Quo Vadis?’: Literary Theory beyond Postmodernism.” Christianity and Literature, vol. 53, no. 4, 2004, pp. 495–519. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44313350. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
3. Shields, George W. “‘Quo Vadis’? On Current Prospects for Process Philosophy and Theology.” American Journal of Theology & Philosophy, vol. 30, no. 2, 2009, pp. 125–52. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27944469. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
4. McLaughlin, Robert L. “Post-Postmodern Discontent: Contemporary Fiction and the Social World.” Symplokē, vol. 12, no. 1/2, 2004, pp. 53–68. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40550666. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Introduction: “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

“Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry first appeared in 1987 in the Oxford Literary Review. In this seminal essay, Parry critiques the emerging field of colonial discourse analysis, particularly its reliance on poststructuralist methodologies as exemplified by scholars such as Homi Bhabha and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. She argues that while these approaches successfully deconstruct the binaries and discursive frameworks of colonialism, they often marginalize or overlook the historical agency and resistance of the colonized. Parry underscores the importance of integrating the material conditions and anti-colonial struggles into theoretical frameworks to avoid reducing colonial history to purely discursive phenomena. The essay is crucial in literary theory as it challenges dominant paradigms within postcolonial studies, urging scholars to reconcile textual analysis with the socio-political realities of imperialism and liberation movements. Its emphasis on the dialectics of colonial power and resistance has had a lasting impact on the field.

Summary of “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

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Key Issues in Theories of Colonial Discourse

1. Critique of Binary Frameworks in Colonial Discourse
   • Parry questions the reliance on binary oppositions (e.g., colonizer/colonized, self/other) in colonial discourse analysis, arguing that such models often replicate the colonial framework instead of dismantling it (Parry, 273).
   • References critiques like those of Homi Bhabha and Gayatri Spivak, who reject these binaries in favor of exploring hybridity and ambivalence (Bhabha, 93-94; Spivak, 122).
2. Limits of Subversion through Discourse
   • While acknowledging the role of colonial discourse in undermining imperialist rhetoric, Parry critiques its tendency to emphasize textual over material resistance (275).
   • Suggests that focusing solely on deconstructing colonial texts neglects the material practices of imperialism and the active agency of colonized peoples.
3. Reevaluation of Frantz Fanon’s Contributions
   • Parry highlights Fanon’s insights into colonial ideology’s construction but critiques the neglect of his focus on material and collective resistance in favor of psychoanalytic and textual interpretations (276).
   • Fanon’s dialectical method, blending Marxism with phenomenology, provides a framework for understanding colonialism as a lived reality and not just a textual phenomenon.
4. Neglect of Native Agency
   • Current theories often fail to account for the active agency of the colonized, treating them as “muted” or complicit in their subjugation (Spivak, 131).
   • Parry argues for recognizing the historical and political contributions of anti-colonial movements and intellectuals (277-278).
5. Ambivalence and Mimicry in Bhabha’s Approach
   • Bhabha’s concept of mimicry highlights the colonized’s ability to subvert colonial authority through imitation, but Parry finds this insufficient for addressing the structural power of colonialism (Bhabha, 100-104).
   • Critiques the emphasis on discourse over tangible resistance, which risks depoliticizing anti-colonial struggles.
6. Overemphasis on Epistemic Violence
   • Parry critiques Spivak’s focus on “epistemic violence” and the supposed inability of the subaltern to “speak,” arguing it marginalizes existing resistance discourses and alternative epistemologies (Spivak, 130-131).
   • Calls for a broader engagement with liberationist narratives that challenge imperialist histories.
7. Role of Historical Materialism
   • Advocates for a return to historical materialist frameworks that consider the socio-economic dimensions of colonialism alongside its ideological and discursive aspects (Parry, 279).
   • Highlights the inadequacy of purely textual critiques in understanding colonialism’s enduring impacts.
8. Deconstruction vs. Material Politics
   • Parry critiques deconstructionist approaches for their abstract focus, which often ignores the socio-economic and political realities of imperialism (282).
   • Calls for analyses that integrate discourse with the material realities of colonization and resistance.
9. Neglect of Anti-Colonial Literature
   • Suggests current theories often undervalue anti-colonial texts by liberation movements, dismissing them as overly essentialist or nativist (284).
   • Instead, she advocates for a nuanced understanding of these texts as counter-discourses to colonial hegemony.

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Critical Implications and Future Directions

• Need for Integration of Discursive and Material Analysis
  • Parry urges a balance between deconstructing colonial discourse and addressing the socio-economic structures that sustain imperialism (Parry, 285).
• Recognition of Anti-Colonial Voices
  • Calls for greater acknowledgment of the intellectual and political agency of colonized peoples in resisting colonial domination (Parry, 286-287).
• Engagement with Liberationist Traditions
  • Recommends revisiting liberationist texts to uncover their emancipatory potential and critique their historical erasures by dominant colonial discourse theories.

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

Theoretical Term/Concept	Definition/Explanation	Key References
Colonial Discourse	A system of representation through which colonial powers constructed knowledge about colonized peoples.	Parry critiques its focus on binaries and textual analysis (273-275).
Binary Opposition	The dichotomous construction of categories (e.g., colonizer/colonized, self/other) central to colonialism.	Critiqued by Bhabha and Spivak for its limitations (Bhabha, 93-94; Spivak, 122).
Epistemic Violence	The erasure of native knowledge systems and voices by colonialist frameworks of knowledge.	Spivak emphasizes this concept, critiqued by Parry for neglecting native agency (Spivak, 131).
Mimicry	The ambivalent imitation of colonizers by colonized subjects, both subverting and reinforcing authority.	Bhabha’s concept, critiqued for focusing on textual rather than material resistance (Bhabha, 100-104).
Hybridity	A state of cultural mixing and ambivalence within colonial contexts, undermining binary oppositions.	Central to Bhabha’s critique of colonial authority (Bhabha, 97).
Manichean Aesthetics	A framework of oppositional representations (e.g., good/evil, civilized/primitive) inherent in colonial texts.	Coined by JanMohamed, applied to colonial and anti-colonial literature (JanMohamed, 181).
Subaltern	Marginalized groups unable to represent themselves within dominant discourses.	Spivak’s critique: “The subaltern cannot speak” (Spivak, 122-130).
Reverse Discourse	Resistance through reappropriation and inversion of colonialist language and representations.	Seen in Fanon’s and JanMohamed’s works but critiqued by Spivak for reinstating binaries (Parry, 276-277).
Phenomenology	Study of consciousness and subjective experience; used by Fanon to explore colonial alienation.	Fanon’s dialectical method integrating phenomenology and Marxism (Parry, 276).
Dialectical Process	A method of analysis emphasizing contradictions and their resolution; central to Marxist and Fanonian thought.	Parry emphasizes its role in Fanon’s critique of colonialism (276-277).
Psychoanalytic Framework	Analyzes the psychological effects of colonialism on both colonizers and colonized.	Used by Fanon to dissect identity and alienation; applied by Bhabha in “colonial fantasy” (276).
Cultural Hegemony	Domination through cultural institutions and ideologies rather than overt force.	Critiqued for overlooking material resistance (Parry, 278).
Deconstruction	A method to reveal contradictions and instabilities in texts.	Spivak’s tool to interrogate colonial discourses; critiqued by Parry for neglecting material context (282).
Counter-Discourse	Texts and narratives created to resist and oppose colonialist ideologies.	Advocated by liberationist movements; undervalued in deconstructionist approaches (284).
Liberationist Narratives	Stories and texts emerging from anti-colonial struggles emphasizing native agency and resistance.	Critiqued for essentialism but defended by Parry as politically significant (Parry, 286-287).

Contribution of “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry to Literary Theory/Theories

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Examples of Critiques Through “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

Literary Work	Critique by Parry	Reference to the Text
Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks	Parry emphasizes Fanon’s materialist approach, contrasting it with poststructuralist interpretations. She highlights Fanon’s insistence on revolutionary action and rejection of colonial discourse’s dichotomies.	Discusses Fanon’s revolutionary dialectics and psychoanalytic critique of colonialism (Parry, 276).
Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea	Parry critiques Spivak’s reading for erasing Christophine’s voice as a speaking subject. She argues that Christophine represents a counter-discourse, challenging colonial and patriarchal authority.	Highlights Christophine’s agency as a figure of resistance and counter-discourse (Parry, 284).
Homi Bhabha’s Concept of Hybridity	Parry questions Bhabha’s notion of hybridity, arguing that it often downplays the material realities of colonial oppression. She critiques its focus on ambivalence rather than addressing colonial resistance.	Criticizes the abstraction of hybridity without sufficient emphasis on material struggle (Parry, 278).
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart	Parry acknowledges Achebe’s use of realism to counter colonial stereotypes but also critiques a reliance on cultural nostalgia that risks essentializing African traditions.	Examines Achebe’s realism as both a critique of colonial discourse and a potential essentialist pitfall (Parry, 287).

Criticism Against “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

• Limited Engagement with Non-European Contexts: Critics argue that Parry’s focus remains largely Eurocentric, primarily addressing critiques of colonial discourse from metropolitan academic frameworks, rather than incorporating perspectives directly from colonized or postcolonial societies.
• Underestimation of Poststructuralist Insights: Some scholars believe Parry dismisses the value of poststructuralist approaches too quickly, particularly their contributions to understanding the fluidity of identity and power dynamics within colonial discourse.
• Overemphasis on Materialism: Critics suggest that Parry’s advocacy for materialist frameworks risks oversimplifying the complex cultural and psychological effects of colonialism, which are central to postcolonial theories.
• Limited Attention to Gender Dynamics: While Parry critiques Spivak’s portrayal of native women, some argue that her own analysis insufficiently explores how colonialism intersects with gendered power relations.
• Binary Framing of Fanon vs. Poststructuralists: Parry’s framing of Fanon as opposing poststructuralist theorists like Bhabha and Spivak is criticized for simplifying the nuances of their positions and ignoring potential complementarities.
• Neglect of Environmental and Ecological Concerns: Parry’s analysis does not engage with how colonial discourse and imperialism also shaped environmental exploitation, a topic increasingly important in postcolonial studies.
• Insufficient Recognition of Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Some argue that Parry underestimates the epistemological contributions of indigenous and non-Western knowledge systems in resisting colonial discourse.
• Static View of Cultural Resistance: Parry’s focus on structural and material resistance is seen by some as limiting, failing to account for the fluid and evolving nature of cultural resistance in colonial and postcolonial contexts.
• Overgeneralization of Postcolonial Theorists: Critics note that Parry’s critiques of postcolonial thinkers such as Bhabha and Spivak occasionally generalize their works, reducing their nuanced arguments to broad theoretical trends.

Representative Quotations from “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“The construction of a text disrupting imperialism’s authorized version was begun long ago within the political and intellectual cultures of colonial liberation movements.”	Parry highlights how anti-colonial critiques have deep historical roots, challenging colonialism even before postcolonial theory emerged.
“Although critics now developing a critique of colonialism do invoke Fanon, this can be a ceremonial gesture to an exemplary and exceptional radical stance.”	Parry critiques modern theorists for only superficially engaging with Frantz Fanon’s revolutionary ideas.
“Homi Bhabha rejects the notion of the colonial relationship as a symmetrical antagonism… arguing for its ambivalence.”	She critiques Bhabha’s concept of ambivalence for diluting the stark realities of colonial oppression and resistance.
“To dismantle colonialist knowledge and displace the received narrative… the founding concepts of the problematic must be refused.”	Parry advocates for a fundamental rejection of colonialist frameworks rather than their mere deconstruction.
“The subaltern cannot speak.” (Spivak cited)	Parry engages with Spivak’s assertion, critiquing its erasure of native resistance and voice.
“Fanon’s method of exposing… the taxonomy of colonialist knowledge in order to break its hold over the oppressed.”	She emphasizes the enduring relevance of Fanon’s strategies in dismantling colonialist ideology.
“Critics working from such a position might argue… a reverse discourse replicating and therefore reinstalling linguistic polarities.”	Parry critiques both colonial discourse analysis and its tendency to inadvertently reinforce colonial binaries.
“A theory assigning an absolute power to the hegemonic discourse… denies native agency.”	Parry critiques Spivak’s theory for disregarding the active role of colonized peoples in resisting imperialist dominance.
“How then do these deconstructions of colonialism’s signifying system act more radically to disrupt the hegemonic discourse than does Fanon’s method?”	Parry questions whether deconstructive approaches truly challenge colonial power structures more effectively than direct anti-colonial strategies.
“A declared project of defining ‘modes of relationship between a society and its literature’ through examining ‘the ideological structure.’”	Parry advocates for grounding literary criticism in material and ideological contexts to uncover their political implications.

Suggested Readings: “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse” by Benita Parry

1. Parry, Benita. “Problems in Current Theories of Colonial Discourse.” Oxford Literary Review, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 1987, pp. 27–58. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43973680. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
2. Ganguly, Keya. “Roundtable: Revisiting Edward Said’s Orientalism.” History of the Present, vol. 5, no. 1, 2015, pp. 65–82. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/historypresent.5.1.0065. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
3. Parry, Benita. “The Postcolonial: Conceptual Category or Chimera?” The Yearbook of English Studies, vol. 27, 1997, pp. 3–21. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3509129. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
4. Ginsburg, Shai. “Signs and Wonders: Fetishism and Hybridity in Homi Bhabha’s ‘The Location of Culture.’” CR: The New Centennial Review, vol. 9, no. 3, 2009, pp. 229–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41949661. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Introduction: “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

“Action and Meaning in Literary Theory” by Ronald Tanaka first appeared in a work supported by a Canada Council grant for the English Syntax Project at the University of British Columbia. Published in a scholarly setting, the essay explores the interplay between action theory and utterance-meaning within the context of an integrated literary theory. Tanaka’s pivotal argument links literary interpretation with broader theories of meaning, particularly those developed by philosophers such as H.P. Grice and John Searle. He challenges traditional assumptions that literary meaning is distinct from other types of discourse by positing that the rules governing general meaning equally apply to literature. Tanaka uses theoretical models like Grice’s intention-based framework and Searle’s speech act theory to illuminate how literary works engage readers through intentionality and conventions of language. By bridging linguistics and literary studies, the work underscores the importance of understanding literature not as a separate semantic domain but as deeply intertwined with universal principles of human communication. This contribution is significant as it offers a methodology to analyze literary meaning within a unified framework of linguistic theory, enriching both literary criticism and stylistics.

Summary of “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

Term/Concept	Definition	Relevance in the Study
Action Theory	A framework for analyzing intentional human behavior and its motivations.	Used to relate literary interpretation to the intentions of agents (authors or characters).
Utterance-Meaning	The meaning intended by the speaker when uttering a sentence.	Central to analyzing literary works, focusing on authorial intent and character dialogue.
Sentence-Meaning	The conventional or dictionary meaning of a sentence.	Differentiated from utterance-meaning to emphasize the role of context and intention in interpretation.
Intention-Based Meaning	A theory by H.P. Grice that defines meaning through the speaker’s intentions.	Provides a framework to unify literary and non-literary meanings, avoiding distinct semantic categories for literature.
Speech Act Theory	A concept by John Searle defining utterances as performative actions.	Applied to analyze promises, threats, and declarations in literary texts.
Rules and Conventions	Shared understandings that govern language use and communication.	Explains how language operates in literature to create meaning, as seen in dialogues and character interactions.
Presupposition	Implicit assumptions shared by speaker and listener.	Explored through literary dialogue, such as the mutual understanding between George and Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Inference Rules	Logical steps used to derive meaning from context and language use.	Highlighted in analyzing reader or character interpretations of literary utterances.
Agent	The instigator of an action or utterance, typically animate.	Essential in action theory and for attributing meaning to authorial or character actions.
Illocutionary Acts	The performative function of an utterance (e.g., promising, threatening).	Central to the analysis of character interactions and their impact on the narrative.
Transformational Grammar	A linguistic theory by Noam Chomsky explaining deep and surface structures.	Supports the idea that deeper linguistic structures can explain literary phenomena.
Deep Structure	The underlying meaning or conceptual framework of a sentence.	Used to bridge the gap between linguistic theory and literary interpretation.
Case Grammar	A linguistic model emphasizing roles such as agent, instrument, and goal.	Provides tools to analyze literary meaning by categorizing relationships in actions and events.
Perlocutionary Effects	The consequences or effects of an utterance on the listener.	Demonstrated in the emotional and relational shifts caused by speech acts in literary works.

Contribution of “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka to Literary Theory/Theories

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Examples of Critiques Through “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

Literary Work	Critique Through Tanaka’s Framework	Key References from Tanaka’s Theory
Donne’s “The Canonization”	The poem’s meaning is tied to Donne’s intentions behind his utterances rather than purely its poetic language. Understanding Donne’s personal context and intentionality enhances the interpretation.	– “Donne’s meaning that p by c… entails some agent’s meaning that p by uttering x.” – Highlights that authorial intent governs meaning, rejecting the separation of “poetic meaning” from general communicative meaning.
Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?	The verbal exchanges between George and Martha are analyzed as intentional speech acts, such as threats and provocations, which drive the narrative conflict. George’s manipulative speech illustrates deliberate rule violations to challenge presuppositions.	– “The important actions of the play are speech acts… The games that are played, the attacks, cruelty… are possible only through language.” – “There has to exist some set of mutually-known conventions or presuppositions…” – Example: George’s response to Martha: “That’s a threat, Martha,” analyzed as a speech act that leverages intent and audience recognition.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet	Hamlet’s dialogue and soliloquies are framed as speech acts expressing complex intentions, such as persuading others (e.g., the players) or reflecting his own internal conflicts.	– Speech acts like promises and threats are applied to analyze character interactions and soliloquies. – “Meaning something is… the performing of an intentional act such as speaking, writing or gesturing with certain kinds of intentions.”
T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”	Prufrock’s hesitations and fragmented monologue reflect an internalized speech act where intention (expressing insecurity and doubt) clashes with conventional forms of communication.	– “Utterance-meaning” focuses on the speaker’s intention, distinguishing it from conventional “sentence-meaning.” – “For someone to mean something by uttering x is for him to utter x with the intention of producing in some hearer some effect by means of the hearer’s recognition of the speaker’s intention.”

Criticism Against “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

Representative Quotations from “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“A literary theory must entail a theory of action on independent grounds.”	Tanaka asserts that understanding literature requires integrating action theory, which explores human intentionality and behavior, establishing a foundation for connecting linguistic meaning to literary interpretation.
“The central topic of discussion will be the notion of utterance-meaning first proposed by H.P. Grice.”	Highlights the importance of Grice’s intention-based meaning framework, which forms the theoretical basis for analyzing how literary meaning is constructed through speaker intentions and contextual communication.
“If understanding c is essential to an understanding of the poem, then an assessment of Donne’s intentions is essential.”	Links the interpretation of poetry (e.g., Donne’s The Canonization) to the intentional actions of the poet, emphasizing that understanding meaning requires examining what the poet intended to communicate.
“Meaning is not a relation between things, and persons mean things, not words.”	Challenges the relational view of meaning by arguing that meaning derives from human agents and their intentions, not from words themselves, which is central to interpreting literary texts dynamically.
“There has to exist some set of mutually-known conventions or presuppositions.”	Establishes that shared linguistic and cultural conventions are necessary for meaning-making in literature, emphasizing the relational dynamics between author, text, and reader.
“The purpose of a theory is to provide explanations.”	Stresses the explanatory power of Tanaka’s integrated theory of meaning and action, positioning literary theory as a tool for understanding rather than merely interpreting texts.
“Promises are a part of a whole family of intentional actions which are customarily performed in the course of meaning something.”	Uses speech act theory to analyze how promises and other intentional actions (e.g., threats) operate in literature, providing insights into the performative aspects of literary dialogue and narrative.
“George intentionally created the situation by calling his son a bean bag.”	In analyzing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Tanaka demonstrates how language is deliberately used to manipulate and challenge social conventions, highlighting the intentionality behind character interactions.
“The games that are played, the attacks, cruelty, separation… are possible only through language.”	Asserts the centrality of language to human interaction and conflict, emphasizing its power in creating and resolving narrative tensions in literature.
“Language presupposes a mutual relationship between speaker and hearer.”	Suggests that literary meaning arises from the interaction between the author’s intent and the audience’s interpretation, highlighting the collaborative nature of meaning-making in literary works.

Suggested Readings: “Action And Meaning In Literary Theory” By Ronald Tanaka

1. Tanaka, Ronald. “Action and meaning in literary theory.” Journal of Literary Semantics 1.Jahresband (1972): 41-56.
2. Belsey, Catherine. “Problems of Literary Theory: The Problem of Meaning.” New Literary History, vol. 14, no. 1, 1982, pp. 175–82. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/468964. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
3. Olsen, Stein Haugom. “The ‘Meaning’ of a Literary Work.” New Literary History, vol. 14, no. 1, 1982, pp. 13–32. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/468955. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
4. Jauss, Hans Robert, and Elizabeth Benzinger. “Literary History as a Challenge to Literary Theory.” New Literary History, vol. 2, no. 1, 1970, pp. 7–37. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/468585. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.