A major theorist with a lively prose and an equally lively use of metaphor, felski has always been where the action is. Rita felskis book is a refreshing literary manifesto that argues for the uses of literature. Offers four different ways of thinking about why we read literature for recognition, enchantment, knowledge, and shock. Felski wants to find an ordinary theory of literature and culture that would replace these hermeneutics of suspicion. This essay examines the distinctive features of such a hermeneutics as they have shaped literary theory and criticism in recent decades. Rita felski is a professor of english at the university of virginia and the editor of new literary history. Feminist literature and social change and the gender of modernity. Susan stanford friedman is a professor of english and womens studies and director of the institute for research in the humanities at the university of wisconsinmadison.
She edits a wellrespected professional journal, new literary history, and has published widely on feminism, modernism, postmodernism, aesthetics, and critical methods. Uses of literature bridges the gap between literary theory and c. A manifesto for positive aesthetics rita felski, uses of literature. Uses of literature by rita felski overdrive rakuten. She is the author of beyond feminist aesthetics, the gender of modernity, doing time. Challenging many timeworn homilies and theories put forth in contemporary literary criticism, uses of literature offers refreshing new insights into the purpose and value of reading literature. Easily share your publications and get them in front of issuus. This cited by count includes citations to the following articles in scholar. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons. Buy uses of literature wileyblackwell manifestos 1 by felski, rita isbn. Literature after feminism is the first work to comprehensively rebut such caricatures, while also offering a cleareyed assessment of the relative merits of various feminist approaches to literature.
Felski is a prominent scholar in the fields of aesthetics and literary theory, feminist theory, modernity and postmodernity, and cultural studies. Rather, and this is what i most admire about it, uses of literature epitomizes a most valuable use of criticism. Combining aspects of cultural and literary studies, the uses of literature will reward anyone interested in the literature of modern china or how creativity is affected by a socialist literary system. She has now written a book that will get all of us to take another look at what weve been doing. Critique and postcritique books gateway duke university press. Her previous books include beyond feminist aesthetics. Professor of english and chair of comparative literature at the university of virginia, and an associate editor of new literary history. Sep 03, 2017 a colleague who received her phd in literature in 1998 once wistfully said to me. She is closely associated with the field of postcritique, a school of thought that tries to find new for. The limits of critique will shock some and elate others. This introduction contextualizes recent debates over the merits of critique and postcritique within literary and cultural studies. She is also niels bohr professor at the university of southern denmark.
Marc parry, whats wrong with literary studies, chronicle of higher education, november 27 2016. Rita felski was the main subject of a long article in the chronicle of higher education, which referenced her niels bohr professorship and identified her as the leader of a new movement in literary criticism. The most frequent complaint we literary scholars express nowadays concerns probably the fact that we are required to justify the existence of our discipline. I was greatly helped by this book on literature by rita felski. I found the book instructive to me as a reader of the bible and theologian. Introduction critique and postcritique books gateway. Enchantment uses of literature felski wiley online. Books by rita felski author of the limits of critique. Centre for uses of literature university of southern.
In a series of manifestoes, she has developed a sophisticated language. Few of us in english departments, no matter what our specific investment in feminist criticism, would be surprised at this claim. Pdf distinguished scholar rita felskis recent book, uses of literature, is published in a series called blackwell manifestos. Uses of literature is a lively, sophisticated polemic about literary criticism and literary theorists extraordinarily wellwritten, intellectually expansive, drawing on.
Across three chapters, leading scholars amanda anderson, rita felski, and toril moi reimagine and renew literary studies by engaging in a conversation about character. The uses of literature by author rita felski june, 2008 by rita felski. Explores the diverse motives and mysteries of why we read. She also calls into question those feminist perspectives that have either demonized the modern as inherently patriarchal, or else assumed a simple opposition. Spelling out her main arguments clearly and succinctly, rita felski explains how feminism has changed the ways people read and think about literature. The main part of felski s book is devoted to a close analysis of the four modes of textual engagement, which are each discussed in separate chapters. About the author 2011 rita felski is the william r.
Sometimes reading outside your field can be so very helpful to work in your field. Uses of literature bridges the gap between literary theory and commonsense beliefs about why we read literature. Professor of english and chair of comparative literature at the university of virginia, and an associate editor of new. In the final chapter, the book seeks to explain how the word good was used and understood when applied to literary works in such systems. Kenan jr professor of english at the university of virginia. Oct 20, 2015 rita felski has been working toward this book since her gender of modernity piece many years ago, and the time and effort have paid off. Felski, the uses of literature approximatelyforever. To entitle a book the gender of modernity is boldly to run the risk posed by handling overfamiliar concepts. Doc the uses of literature, felski richard topping academia. Best sellers todays deals new releases customer service gift ideas books gift cards electronics home. For felski, the windfall validates a nearly decadelong push to change the way literature and other art forms are studied. The limits of critique should be required reading for all lovers of literature. I recommend this book in particular to anyone who struggles with the notion of postmodernity.
Moi returns to the fundamental theoretical assumptions that convinced literary scholars to stop doing charactercriticism, and shows that they cannot hold. The limits of critique is a triumph of passion and devoted scholastic labor. The final, simple line of rita felski s book pretty much sums up her main argument. Embodying human rights in world literature rita felski is william r. A persistent identifier can be found in the pdf version of. Her books include the gender of modernity 1995, literature after feminism 2003, uses of literature 2008 and the limits of critique 2015. Buy rita felski ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. She is the author of several books, including, most recently, uses of literature and literature after feminism, the latter also published by the university of chicago press. Rita felski s book is a refreshing literary manifesto that argues for the uses of literature. Rita felski has run that risk with expert skill, producing an important study which succeeds in its aim to unravel the complexities of modernitys relationship to femininity through an analysis of its varied and competing representations. One school which strictly foists literature on a pedestal of alternity and opposition to the seemingly laymen attachment to literature for the sake of enjoyment the 2nd school of thought.
Ever since the socalled linguistic turn in the 70s. Anker is associate professor of english at cornell university and the author of fictions of dignity. By exploring its limits, felski frees critics from relying on critique as the gatekeeper of literary studies and offers a prescient guide to. Some books are so incisive and timely that they seem inevitable. Rita felski, in the uses of literature, reads manuel puigs kiss of the spider woman as an exercise in aesthetic reeducation, and c.
Uses of literature is a lively, sophisticated polemic about literary criticism and literary theorists extraordinarily wellwritten, intellectually expansive, drawing on a wide range of canonical and popular literature and film to illustrate felski s compelling account of literary value. Rita felski in an innovative and invigorating exploration of the complex relations between women and the modern, rita felski challenges conventional malecentered theories of modernity. Felski is a prominent scholar in the fields of aesthetics and literary theory. Professorship of english at the university of virginia and is a former editor of new literary history. She is the author of beyond feminist aesthetics, the gender of modern. Every time a turn of phrase or extended metaphor made me smile i put a smiley face in the margin. A manifesto for positive aesthetics rita felski, uses of. In uses of literature, rita felski, professor of english at university of virginia, explores. This money would help felski assemble a team of scholars to investigate the social uses of literature. Feminist theory and postmodern culture, and literature after feminism. But in this lucid, readable, and highly persuasive book, rita felski demonstrates the impossible. Rita felskis book is a bridge between the two schools of thought on the importance of literature. And this wasnt yet another bigticket digitalhumanities effort to map the social history of the united states or crunch the cultural data stored in.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Researchers engaged in distinct yet related projects will take their orientation from rita felskis work, especially uses of literature, the limits of critique, and her current book on attachment, and her nlh volume on new sociologies of literature, to develop innovative forms of interaction between literature and the social sciences. The main part of felskis book is devoted to a close analysis of the four modes of textual engagement, which are each discussed in separate. Namwali serpell has outlined a phenomenological, postcritical reading of jim thompsons the killer inside me 1952 that exposes the limitations of purely ideological interpretations of the novel. Felski 5 offers a broader perspective on reading in the widelyread and comprehensive uses of literature. Uses of literature wileyblackwell manifestos book 33. Professor of english at the university of virginia and the author of many books, most recently, the limits of critique. If i laughed aloud i sometimes circled the smiley face. Researchers engaged in distinct yet related projects will take their orientation from rita felski s work, especially uses of literature, the limits of critique, and her current book on attachment, and her nlh volume on new sociologies of literature, to develop innovative forms of interaction between literature and the social sciences.
No one will feel neutral, and no one can afford not to read this. Although felski expresses reluctance to call her book a manifesto, she. Felski my current research centers on aesthetics, method, and interpretation. Feminist theory and postmodern culture cultural front by rita felski books to read online. The diverse motives and mysteries of why we read are explored in this groundbreaking new work by rita felski. Literature after feminism is an expanded field, not a diminished one 169. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read uses of literature. Praise for uses of literature for decades now, the picture of how we read held by literary theorists and that held by everyday common readers have been galaxies apart. While the word uses denotes functionality and pragmatism, felski s thesis steers away from such utilitarian waters towards a balanced presentation of literary study.
Rita felski is professor of english at the university of virginia. Pdf uses of literature download full pdf book download. Uses of literature wileyblackwell manifestos book 33 ebook. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Anker, rita felski now that literary critiques intellectual and political payoff is no longer quite so selfevident, critics are vigorously debating the functions and futures of critique. Proposing that the interaction between reader and literature involves four modes of textual engagement recognition, enchantment, knowledge, and shock the uses of literature bridges the gap between literary theory and commonsense beliefs about why we read literature. Uses of literature is a lively, sophisticated polemic about literary criticism and literary theorists extraordinarily wellwritten, intellectually expansive, drawing on a wide range of canonical and popular literature and film to illustrate felskis compelling account of literary value. Rita felski is an academic and critic, who holds the william r. Professor of english at the university of virginia and the editor of new literary history. Her strategy is to outline a theory of literature based on four modes of human interactionrecognition, enchantment, knowledge and shock.
What rita felski explains with such insight and clarity in her new book. The limits of critique, felski the university of chicago press. The limits of critique by rita felski, paperback barnes. While the word uses denotes functionality and pragmatism, felskis thesis steers away from such utilitarian waters towards a balanced presentation of literary study. She offers a nuanced description of the state of theoryheavy academic literary critique, and some proposals. With this unmanifesto felski seeks to provide a defense of literary studies that does not deny the affective dimensions namely pleasure of. Rita felski born 1956 is an academic and critic, who holds the william r. It develops various frameworks for evaluating those debates. Rita felskis most popular book is the transgender studies reader. She is the author of several books, including, most recently, uses of literature and literature after feminism, the latter also published by. Uses of literature wiley online books wiley online library. In 2016, she was awarded a niels bohr professorship by the. Feb 22, 2016 rita felski, the uses of literature 2008 in the uses of literature, rita felski devises a critique of symptomatic reading as the standard operating procedure of literary studies today. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
The limits of critique by rita felski chicago and london. Felski distinguishes among four modes of textual engagement. Uses of literature rita felski by hymangentry issuu. Uses of literature general literature subjects wiley. Rita felski has 20 books on goodreads with 2295 ratings. Rather than simply making the familiar strange, rita felskis uses of literature often recasts the familiar as wondrous.
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