{"product_id":"the-myth-of-theory-hardback-9780521445443","title":"The Myth of Theory (Hardback) 9780521445443","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Myth of Theory\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat is critical theory, and to what extent can it claim to exist as a free-standing entity independent of the object of enquiry?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eWilliam Righter (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521445443, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 11 August 1994\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e236 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.6 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.48 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eWhat is critical theory, and to what extent can it claim to exist as a free-standing entity independent of the object of enquiry? Is the much-discussed gulf between Anglo-Saxon empiricism and Continental post-structuralism more apparent than real? In The Myth of Theory William Righter explores the nature of thinking about literature and the assumed polarities between the abstract reasonings of philosophy and the concrete exploratory manoeuvres of critical practice. He goes on to examine the role of theory in critical observation, through extended case studies of the work of critics including Barthes. Bloom, Poulet, Eliot, Empson, Kristeva and Derrida. His underlying argument is that criticism uses theory but is never effectively directed or controlled by it: the inherent radicalism built into critical practice fragments and transforms general concepts in the act of applying them.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e1. From chaos to case\u003cbr\u003e 2. The bizarre territory\u003cbr\u003e 3. The curve of the mirror\u003cbr\u003e 4. From 'so complex an irony' to 'such a textual logic'\u003cbr\u003e 5. From 'wit' to 'astonishment'\u003cbr\u003e 6. 'Fool' and 'pharmakon'\u003cbr\u003e 7. 'The monstrous clarity'\u003cbr\u003e 8. From 'ensemble' to 'exception'\u003cbr\u003e 9. Pagan perspectives\u003cbr\u003e 10. The Tao of criticism.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Literary theory [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Literary theory\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Literary%20theory%20%5BDSA%5D%22\"\u003eDSA\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46007443620120,"sku":"9780521445443","price":70.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521445443_70a737dd-2b22-4803-965f-8f50ab7639ad.gif?v=1691381997","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-myth-of-theory-hardback-9780521445443","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}