Metacriticism in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Metacriticism

The term “metacriticism” originates from the fusion of two Greek words: “meta,” signifying “beyond” or “transcending,” and “kritikē,” meaning “critical judgment” or “criticism.”

In an academic context, metacriticism conveys a level of critical analysis that extends beyond traditional literary or cultural criticism. It entails the examination and assessment of the methods, assumptions, and theoretical frameworks used in various critical approaches.

Metacriticism seeks to evaluate the validity and limitations of these approaches, often by scrutinizing the underlying ideologies, biases, or epistemological foundations that underpin them.

This practice serves as a self-reflective and self-corrective tool within the realm of literary and cultural studies, enabling a deeper comprehension of the principles guiding critical inquiry and interpretation.

Meanings of Metacriticism

Aspect of Metacriticism	Meanings
1. Critical Self-Reflection	Metacriticism involves critically analyzing and evaluating the assumptions, methods, and theoretical foundations of various literary and cultural criticism approaches.
2. Evaluation of Critical Frameworks	It examines the ideologies, epistemological foundations, and cultural contexts that underlie critical frameworks, offering insights into their broader implications.
3. Assessment of Methodologies	Metacriticism assesses the suitability and effectiveness of critical methodologies in literary and cultural studies.
4. Promoting Self-Awareness	It encourages scholars to recognize and address their own biases and presuppositions, fostering more balanced interpretations.
5. Advancing Scholarship	Metacriticism contributes to the development and refinement of critical practices, enhancing the understanding of literature and culture.

Definition of Metacriticism as a Theoretical Term

Metacriticism, as a theoretical concept in literary studies, involves critically assessing and reflecting upon the assumptions, methods, and theoretical frameworks used in literary and cultural criticism. It aims to uncover implicit biases and cultural contexts that shape various critical approaches. Metacriticism promotes a deeper understanding of literary interpretation and contributes to the refinement and development of literary scholarship by fostering self-awareness and nuanced engagement with texts and their contexts.

Metacriticism: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists:

• Terry Eagleton: In Marxism and Literary Criticism, Eagleton underscores the significance of materialist analysis in literary criticism, emphasizing how literature is intricately linked to economic and social conditions.
• Fredric Jameson: Jameson’s The Political Unconscious advocates for a Marxist approach to literature, asserting that literary texts are deeply embedded in historical and material contexts, and that understanding these contexts is vital for comprehensive literary interpretation.
• Franco Moretti: In Distant Reading, Moretti challenges traditional close reading by introducing quantitative methods. He argues that examining large datasets of texts can reveal hidden patterns and trends, offering new insights into literary studies.
• Roland Barthes: In “The Death of the Author,” Barthes challenges the traditional concept of authorship, asserting that the focus of analysis should be on the text itself rather than the author’s intentions or biography.
• Northrop Frye: Frye’s Anatomy of Criticism provides a systematic framework for understanding literary genres and archetypal patterns in literature, offering a structural approach to literary analysis.

Works:

• Marxism and Literary Criticism by Terry Eagleton: This book explores the relationship between Marxism and literary criticism, emphasizing the materialist aspects of literature and the role of ideology in shaping literary works.
• The Political Unconscious: Narrative as a Socially Symbolic Act by Fredric Jameson: Jameson’s book delves into the intersection of literature and politics, arguing for a Marxist approach to understanding narrative and ideology in literature.
• Distant Reading by Franco Moretti: Moretti’s work introduces computational methods to literary analysis, challenging traditional close reading practices and offering new insights into the study of literature.
• “The Death of the Author” by Roland Barthes: In this influential essay, Barthes argues for a shift in focus from the author to the text itself, questioning the author’s role in determining a text’s meaning.
• Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye: Frye’s seminal work provides a systematic framework for understanding literary genres and archetypal patterns in literature, contributing to the field of literary criticism.

Arguments:

• Eagleton argues that literary works are influenced by socio-economic factors and that critically analyzing these material conditions is essential for a thorough interpretation of literature.
• Jameson’s argument centers on the idea of the “political unconscious,” contending that literature contains concealed ideological meanings that require Marxist analysis to uncover.
• Moretti’s argument in Distant Reading challenges conventional close reading methods and advocates for distant reading, which involves the analysis of large datasets to reveal literary patterns and historical trends.
• Barthes’ argument in “The Death of the Author” questions the authority of the author in determining a text’s meaning, highlighting the significance of reader interpretation.
• Frye’s argument in Anatomy of Criticism provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and categorizing literary genres and archetypal patterns, contributing to the field of literary criticism.

Metacriticism and Literary Theories

Theory	Relevance
Marxist Literary Theory	In the context of Marxist literary theory, metacriticism helps assess and critique the underlying economic and social assumptions of different critical approaches. It examines how literary criticism itself can be influenced by or resist prevailing capitalist ideologies.
Feminist Literary Theory	Within feminist literary theory, metacriticism is valuable for analyzing the gender biases inherent in traditional critical methods and for promoting more inclusive and gender-aware approaches to literary analysis.
Postcolonial Literary Theory	Metacriticism can be employed in postcolonial literary theory to scrutinize the colonial legacies present in various critical paradigms and to highlight the importance of decolonizing the process of literary interpretation.
Psychoanalytic Literary Theory	In the realm of psychoanalytic literary theory, metacriticism aids in evaluating the unconscious biases and assumptions that can underlie critical interpretations, encouraging self-awareness and introspection in the analysis of literary texts.
Poststructuralist Literary Theory	Metacriticism aligns with poststructuralist literary theory by emphasizing the deconstruction of established critical methodologies and the exploration of the power dynamics inherent in various interpretive practices.
Reader-Response Literary Theory	In reader-response literary theory, metacriticism encourages a focus on the act of reading itself and how different interpretive communities shape literary meaning, thus enriching the understanding of how readers engage with texts.
Cultural Studies	Metacriticism is pertinent to cultural studies by highlighting the ways in which cultural biases and power structures can influence critical perspectives, facilitating a more comprehensive analysis of literature within its cultural context.
Deconstruction	In deconstructionist literary theory, metacriticism aligns with the philosophy of questioning established norms and hierarchies within literary criticism, thereby challenging dominant interpretations and revealing the instability of meaning.
New Historicism	Metacriticism complements new historicism by encouraging a critical reflection on how historical contexts shape the methods and interpretations employed in the study of literature, fostering a deeper engagement with historical narratives.
Queer Theory	Within queer theory, metacriticism can be applied to uncover and challenge heteronormative assumptions in literary criticism, promoting a more inclusive and diverse perspective on sexual and gender identities in literature.

Metacriticism in Literary Criticism

1. The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom: Harold Bloom’s influential work The Anxiety of Influence exemplifies metacriticism. In it, Bloom critically examines how earlier poets influence and shape the work of subsequent poets. He reflects on the ways in which poets grapple with the literary “anxiety” of being influenced by their predecessors and how they strive to establish their unique voices in the face of literary tradition.
2. The New Historicism by Stephen Greenblatt: Stephen Greenblatt’s essay The New Historicism serves as an example of metacriticism within the realm of literary theory. In it, Greenblatt reflects on the emergence of the new historicist approach to literature, which emphasizes the importance of historical and cultural context in literary analysis. He critiques the traditional approaches that prioritize formal analysis and argues for a more historically grounded interpretation of literature.
3. The Death and Return of the Author by Seán Burke: Seán Burke’s book The Death and Return of the Author engages in metacriticism by revisiting the debates surrounding the role of the author in literary interpretation. Burke critically assesses the shifts in literary theory that challenge the author’s authority and argues for a more nuanced understanding of authorship within the context of postmodernism.
4. The Anatomy of Influence by Harold Bloom: In The Anatomy of Influence, Harold Bloom engages in metacriticism once again, but this time he examines the influence of one writer on another. He explores how great writers are shaped by and engage with the works of their predecessors. This metacritical exploration delves into the intricate relationships between literary figures and their sources of inspiration.

These examples demonstrate how metacriticism involves critically reflecting on the nature of literary influence, the evolution of literary theories, and the role of the author in interpretation, ultimately enriching our understanding of the field of literary criticism.

Suggested Readings

1. Burke, Seán. The Death and Return of the Author: Criticism and Subjectivity in Barthes, Foucault and Derrida. Edinburgh University Press, 1992.
2. Bloom, Harold. The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry. Oxford University Press, 1973.
3. Bloom, Harold. The Anatomy of Influence: Literature as a Way of Life. Yale University Press, 2011.
4. Greenblatt, Stephen. The New Historicism and Other Old-Fashioned Topics. Princeton University Press, 1989.
5. Jameson, Fredric. The Political Unconscious: Narrative as a Socially Symbolic Act. Cornell University Press, 1981.
6. Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan, editors. Literary Theory: An Anthology. 2nd ed., Blackwell, 2004.
7. Ryan, Michael. Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction. Blackwell, 2007.
8. Waugh, Patricia. Metafiction: The Theory and Practice of Self-Conscious Fiction. Routledge, 1988.
9. Wimsatt, W. K., and Monroe C. Beardsley. “The Intentional Fallacy.” In The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry, edited by W. K. Wimsatt, Harvard University Press, 1954.