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Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) |
Author: Jonathan Culler
Published: 2000-06-15 |
List price: $11.95
Our price: $9.56
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As of: November 21st, 2008 12:33:15 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Wrong title
Literary theory is a vastly forbidding topic for anyone to describe, especially in a modest sized text as one of the Very Short Introduction series. In LITERARY THEORY, Jonathan Culler, the much published deconstructionist, attempts to write a basic text for the novice. To judge the extent that he`succeeds, one must assume that the reader is your typical undergraduate English major who has heard of the mind numbing complexities of Theory and wishes to read a Cliff's notes type introduction prior to the first day of class. The question is this: If this student thoroughly digests Culler's text and no other, will he be ready for the mystifyingly arcane linguistic tsunami of Derrida, Foucault, Lacan, et al that awaits him? The answer, sadly, is no. The primary problem is that Culler has written the wrong book, or at least should have retitled it as Your First College Course in Literature: A Very Short Introduction. Far too much of LITERARY THEORY covers ground that is normally trod in Introduction to Lit 101. Out of the eight chapters supposedly about schools of critical theory, Culler zeroes in on the definition of literature, its relation to Cultural Studies, rhetoric, narrative, performative language, and identity and the subject--all matters of high import but not what is normally thought of as Theory. It is only at the concluding appendix that Culler delves into the various schools of critical theory--and even here he gives them short shrift with superficial definition and no way how to use them to view texts under differing schools of thought. The highly praising blurb on the very first page by Patricia Waugh indicates this problem: She lauds Culler for his politic "avoidance of the usual plod through schools and approaches" that in her mind is no problem at all. But for the rank novice, this plod is essential. LITERARY THEORY, then ironically enough is a handy text indeed for covering what it does cover, but as for fulfilling the promise of its title, this novice may finish the first day of class and wonder why he does not grasp the finer points of the Lacanian Other.
 Something To Be Said for Clarity
This is a classic of clarity and simplicity, a model of its kind, to be compared with the famous Shrunk text on writing. One of the features of theory is the unreadable quality of the prose produced by most of its practitioners. The jargon has made literary no longer attractive. We once read for pleasure and are now turned off by the misc. schools of jargon that obscure as much as they clarify. Those who have written with clarity are written off - Edmund Wilson - and replaced by obscure, minor academics. In this strange atmosphere, and possible as a response to it, Culler has done for theory what Lenin did for Marx. He has made clear what was once difficult if not impossible to understand. We commend his prose style as well as his command of seemingly impenetrable texts.
So-So
I finished Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Culler last evening and admittedly was not quite a fan of it. Parts of it I found to be horribly dense and while it's not A Very Easy Introduction much of the book didn't really seem to fit under the topic. Granted, some of you who are more experts in Literary Theory may disagree. However, I did enjoy a good portion of the book that went into the history of the novel, what exactly literary theory is, looked into the canon and how "reading" styles have changed over time, and so forth. Perhaps most splendidly it offers a short and concise list of all the big literary theories (i.e. feminism, Marxist, psychoanalysis, deconstruction, etc).
 One of the worst books in my library
It's hard to imagine a more painful reading experience. This is a good example of how not to craft expository writing.
 easy to comprehend
Although I graduated from English Literature for about fifteen years ago. I have always been in trouble with literary theories and schools.And I have always been scared to death by the idea of any literary theory. This book has broken the very thick ice which existed between me and the subject. Now I am eager to read more on the subject. Thank you very much Professor Culler.
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