THEORIES THEORISTS AND IMPORTANT TERMS By K Yegoryan Critical Theory Greek kritikos judgment 18 th cent In Literary studies Is a form of hermeneutics the knowledge via interpretation to understand the meaning of human texts and symbolic ex ID: 321054
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LITERATURE AND CRITICAL THEORYTHEORIES, THEORISTS, AND IMPORTANT TERMS
By: K. YegoryanSlide2
Critical TheoryGreek {kritikos} = judgment – 18th centIn Literary studies Is a form of “hermeneutics”- the knowledge via interpretation to understand the meaning of human texts and symbolic expressionsSlide3
Critical TheoryAs a term developed from “Frankfurt School” of theorists in 1923 in the meaning of understanding, criticizing and changing social thinking1st defined by Marx in 1937 in the essay “Traditional and Critical Theory” as a social theory oriented toward critiquing and changing society as a whole in contrast to traditional theory oriented to understanding and explaining Slide4
CRITICAL THEORY AND LITERATUREFocuses on analysis of textsOriginated in 1960s and has been influenced by European philosophy and social theories“A true critique ought to dwell rather upon excellences than implications to discover the concealed beauties of a writer and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observations” Joseph AddisonSlide5
Literary Theory and Schools of CriticismMoral Criticism and Dramatic Construction (~360BC-Formalism (1930s)Structuralism and Semiotics (1920s)Marxist Criticism (1930s)
Psychoanalytic Criticism (
1930s)
Reader
-Response Criticism (
1960s
)
Post-Structuralism, Deconstruction, Postmodernism (
1966)
Post
-Colonial Criticism (
1990s)
Feminist
Criticism (
1960s
)
Gender Studies and Queer Theory (
1970s
)Slide6
Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism1. Moral Criticism and Dramatic Construction (~360 BC-present)PlatoRepublic, Plato may have given us the first literary criticism through the dialog between Socrates and two of his associates AristotleIn Poetics, Aristotle breaks with his teacher (Plato) in the consideration of art. Aristotle considers poetry and rhetoricTo help authors achieve their objectives, Aristotle developed elements of organization and methods for writing effective poetry and drama known as the principles of dramatic construction
Slide7
Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism2. Formalism (1930s-present)Russian FormalismNew Criticism (USA)Neo-Aristotelianism (Chicago School of Criticism)Slide8
RUSSIAN FORMALISM and NEW CRITICISMClose reading of the work itselfRequires a close focus and analysis of the textRussian Formalism and New Critics (American school of thought) claimed:Meaning exists in the text/on the pageNo extra-textual sources to understand meaning ( no author’s intention, biography, hist. era should be considered for text’s meaning)Slide9
DEFAMILIZATIONTerm by V. Shklovsky ( Russian Formalist)Instead of seeing Literature as a “reflection” of the world, the writer must explore new technique and devices for a renewed perception ( ex. the use of figurative, connotative meaning)The readers should experience new meanings and perspectives when seeing the similar in a different way – “defamiliarized”Slide10
3. Structuralism and Semiotics (1920s-present)Slide11
STRUCTUALISMMethod of Literary interpretation via structure (human activates are structured and constructed and so are texts)Structuralism was affected by:LinguisticsSocial ideologyPsychology/anthropologyLiterary analysisSlide12
3. Structuralism and Semiotics (1920s-present)SEMIOTIC – study of SignsStudies the signs and types of representation used by humans to express feelings, ideas, thoughts and ideologies.• Study “texts” (can be images, words, or both)• Text is an assemblage of signs (words, images, sounds) constructed and interpreted with reference to conventions of a genre and in particular medium.Slide13
SEMIOTICSWay to study/read text and images •Denotation & Connotation • Sign = signifier & signified– Depends on social, historical and cultural context – Depends on context of presentation – Depends on viewers receptionHidden Meanings of famous LOGOS
http://
www.youtube.com
/
watch?v
=V_j6ARv10PY&feature=relatedSlide14
Linguistic StructuralismSEMIOTIC – study of Signs Ferdinand de SaussureA Swiss linguistand semiotician whose ideas laid a foundation for many significant developments both in
linguistics
and
semiology
in the 20th
century
Language is based on a
–
Signifier
: the
word, sound,
visual appearance of the word –
Signified
:
its meaning,
the
underlying concept
Signs are largely
arbitrary
Sign doesn't
’
t carry meaning, the meaning comes from the relation of
difference
(A is A because it’s not B) and nor
referenceSlide15
An American philosopher, logician, known for his contributions in semiotics and as "the father of pragmatism". SIGN and MEANINGThere are three relationships between
a
sign (referent) and its
meaning
•
Icon (resemblance to actual thing)
•
Index (connection of facts: often cause-effect)
•
Symbol (depend on how interpreted
)
Representation= symbol: to stand for, to suggest an idea, visual image, belief, action
Charles Sanders
PeirceSlide16
SEMIOTICSSemiotics: the study of signshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEgxTKUP_WISemiotics Of The Tiehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeefWS8YrDwSlide17
Roland BarthesA French literary theorist, philosopher, linguist, critic, and semiotician. ‘The Death of the Author’Meaning exists not only
in
production but reception
The signifier “I” is a ‘shifter’; that moves from one speaker to
the other speaker
as
each
lays claim to it
Linguistically, the author is never more than the instance writing’Slide18
Semiotics Barthes’ MYTHHidden set of rules and conventions through which meanings, which are specific to certain groups, are made to seem universal and given for a whole societyIs a form of language that creates an alternative reality; is a tool to excess the realityIt converts history into nature. And the task of the mytholographer is to rediscover the element of history that motivates the myth, to elicit what is specific to a given time and place, asking what interests are served by the naturalization of particular convictions and values.Slide19
‘Myth Construction’ Innoculation: Acknowledging a small detail to mask larger problemPrevention of History: Removing an object from its place and reality and thus its freedomIdentification: sameness and the destruction of differenceNeither-Norism: balance created by weighting 2 sides against each other (nihilism)Slide20
MEANING and NIHILISMNihilism- philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of lifeMoral Nihilists- assert that morality doesn’t inherently exist, and that any established moral values are invented/ brought out by a planNihilism is also associated with Anomia: general mood of despair at the perceived pointlessness of existence that one may develop realizing there are no necessary norms, rules, and laws.Slide21
4.Marxist Criticism and Social Ideology (1930s-present)one type of symbolic system among othersa set of doctrines, beliefs, or ideas that form the basis of a political, economic, or other system which attempts to put the experience of the world into some order. The result in Marxist thought is the distortion of reality to maintain authority over it.Slide22
Karl Marx German philosopher, economist,sociologist, “Ruling Class/Ruling Ideas”Ideology is the ideas of the ruling class that are in any epoch the ruling idea; the class which is the ruling material force of society is at the same time its ruling intellectual force
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Louis Althussera philosopher, known as “structural Marxist” was critical of many aspects of structuralism.ISA and RSAISA- Ideological State ApparatusesRSA Repressive State ApparatusesIn order to produce its productive power, state applies control through ideologies/ rituals (ISA) and if needed through repression/violence (RSA)
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Althusser’s InterpellationA process by which ideology pre-defines individuals/ constructs them (recreation/birth)Secondary status of subject as mere effect of social relationIdealized futureIdentifiable charactersAT & T Ad with Interpellationhttp://www.youtube.com/
watch?v
=TZb0avfQme8