Literary Criticism and Objective/Balanced Review

• The capacity to generalize about phenomena and to develop concepts that form the basis for interpretation and analysis of a literary text

  Literary Theory
• Types of Criticism

  - author intention

  - reader response

  - biological/biographical

  - cognitive scientific

  - moralist

  - queer

  - socio-political

  - sociological
• Four (4) Critical Variables of Literary Theory and Criticism

  1) World

  2) Author

  3) Text

  4) Reader
• What are the three (3) variables wherein "The Text" gets its context?

  
  

  ___________: objective reality

  
  

  ___________: ideologically constructed language

  
  

  ___________: symbol, archetype

  What are the three (3) variables wherein "The Text" gets its context?

  
  

  Real World: objective reality

  
  

  Other Texts: ideologically constructed language

  
  

  Beyond the World: symbol, archetype
• FILL IN THE BLANKS

  
  

  The (___________) is placed in the center because all approaches must deal, to some extent or another, with the text itself

  FILL IN THE BLANKS

  
  

  The (work itself) is placed in the center because all approaches must deal, to some extent or another, with the text itself
• They deal primarily with the text and NOT with any of the outside considerations (author, real world, audience, etc.)

  Formalism and deconstruction
• They argue that meaning is inherent in a text because it is determinant, while all other considerations are irrelevant

  Formalist
• They also subject texts to careful, formal analysis but they conclude that there is NO MEANING IN LANGUAGE

  Deconstructionists
• In this approach, understanding author and his world (belief, prejudices, time, history, age, character of the author) is important to understand his intent and to make sense of his work

  Historical Approach
• It compares a particular work to other literature, to get a BROADER picture

  Intertextual Approach
• FILL IN THE BLANKS

  
  

  (___________) are approaches dealing with the spiritual and symbolic==the images connecting people throughout time and cultures (___________)

  FILL IN THE BLANKS

  
  

  (Beyond the real world) are approaches dealing with the spiritual and symbolic==the images connecting people throughout time and cultures (Archetype)
• Psychological Approach can fit in many places,

  
  

  ___________: idea of the Jungian collective unconscious (segment of unconscious mind is inherited/common to all mankind)

  
  

  ___________: characters act by real world standards w/recognizable psychological motivations

  
  

  ___________: psychology of the reader (why he sees what he sees in the text) is examined

  
  

  ___________: diagnosing the author itself

  Psychological Approach can fit in many places,

  
  

  Archetypal: idea of the Jungian collective unconscious (segment of unconscious mind is inherited/common to all mankind)

  
  

  Mimetic: characters act by real world standards w/recognizable psychological motivations

  
  

  Reader-Response: psychology of the reader (why he sees what he sees in the text) is examined

  
  

  Historical: diagnosing the author itself
• Feminist, Minority, Marxist, and other such approaches may fit in

  
  

  ___________: asking how well characters accord with the real world

  
  

  ___________: author's attitudes are examined in relation to his times

  Feminist, Minority, Marxist, and other such approaches may fit in

  
  

  Mimetic: asking how well characters accord with the real world

  
  

  Historical: author's attitudes are examined in relation to his times
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  focusing on the actual construction of the text and the work itself in isolation of outside factors like author's own agenda/background

  Formal criticism
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  based on social and economic theories of Karl Marks and Friedrich Engels

  - value based on labor

  - working class will eventually overthrow capitalist middle class

  - currently, middle class exploit working class

  - most institutions are corrupted by capitalist

  Marxist criticism
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  grew out of women's movement that followed WWII

  - analyze role of gender in literature

  - Two purposes: feminist critique (works by male authors, depicting women's writing) and gynocriticism (study of women's writing)

  Feminist Criticism
• TWO PURPOSES OF FEMINIST CRITICISM ACCORDING TO ELAINE SHOWALTER

  
  

  Gynocriticism: study of women's writing

  
  

  Feminist Critique: analysis of works by male authors, especially in the depiction of women's writing

• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  - analyzes literature to reveal insights how human mind works

  - based on work of Sigmand Freud + disciples

  - analyzing characters' actions and motivations

  Psychoanalytic Criticism
• Basic Freudian Concepts


  - all actions are influenced by unconscious

  - human beings must repress many desires to live peacefully with others

  - repressed desires often surface in unconscious, motivating actions
• Three major areas of activity

  
  

  1) ___________: internal censor bringing social pressures to bear on the (2)

  
  

  2) ___________: area in the unconscious that works for gratification through the pleasure principle

  
  

  3) ___________: area in the consciousness that mediates among demands of social pressure, the (2), and the (1)

  Three major areas of activity

  
  

  1) Superego: internal censor bringing social pressures to bear on the (2)

  
  

  2) Id: area in the unconscious that works for gratification through the pleasure principle

  
  

  3) Ego: area in the consciousness that mediates among demands of social pressure, the (2), and the (1)
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  breaks down boundaries between high and low culture (examine why some cultural products are more valued than others)

  - opposing dominant cultures, questioning idea of cultural canons, relating cultural products and events rather than rating them

  Cultural Criticism
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  - meaning resides in language structure, not in art nor in reader's mind

  - scientific approach to literary analysis: structure of language as a logical sign system determines meaning

  - interpret text or part of text by taking its language apart (study word derivations, sentence syntax, etc,)

  Structuralism
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  - challenges principles of structuralism by questioning fixed centers, binary oppositions, and essential identities

  - offers new perspectives on language, culture, and identity in the social sciences and humanities

  Post-Structuralism
• TYPES OF LITERARY THEORY (CRITICISM)

  
  

  - attributed to Carl Jung, disciple of Sigmund Freud

  - analyzes that in a work evokes a similar response in people, regardless of culture

  - concerned with enduring patterns and how they are reflected in literature

  Archetypal Criticism
• a model or pattern from which all other things of a similar nature are made

  Archetype
• certain basic and central images and experiences that are inherent in the human psyche

  Collective Unconscious (a hive mind of sorts)
• system of interpreting, judging, and assessing a person, thing, or any work of art not influenced by feelings or opinions in considering and presenting facts.

  Balanced/Objective Review or Criticism
• systematic way of considering the truthfulness of a piece of work

  Balanced/Objective Review or Criticism
• To have Balanced/Objective Review or Criticism:

  
  

  ____________: "How did the writer write it"; main idea, interpretative statement, evidence

  
  

  ____________: determine what features suggest and decide why artist/writers used such features to convey specific ideas

  
  

  ____________: answers the question, "what do you see"

  
  

  ____________: giving it rank in rank relation to other works and its originality, answers "is it a good work?"

  To have Balanced/Objective Review or Criticism:

  
  

  Interpretation: "How did the writer write it"; main idea, interpretative statement, evidence

  
  

  Analysis: determine what features suggest and decide why artist/writers used such features to convey specific ideas

  
  

  Description: answers the question, "what do you see"

  
  

  Judgement: giving it rank in rank relation to other works and its originality, answers "is it a good work?"
• It is a medium that emphasizes light, color, and space

  Paint Critique
• Principles of Composition

  
  

  ____________: do the sizes of different elements in the work appear the way you would expect to?

  
  

  ____________: how does the work create a sense of movement? Is your eye drawn through the composition in a particular way?

  
  

  ____________: how do colors, shapes, and textures in the piece work together? do they create a balanced or harmonious effect?

  
  

  ____________: Does the work make use of fitting colors, textures, or lighting?

  Principles of Composition

  
  

  Proportion: do the sizes of different elements in the work appear the way you would expect to?

  
  

  Movement: how does the work create a sense of movement? Is your eye drawn through the composition in a particular way?

  
  

  Balance: how do colors, shapes, and textures in the piece work together? do they create a balanced or harmonious effect?

  
  

  Contrast: Does the work make use of fitting colors, textures, or lighting?
• What is the focus of Author Intention Criticism?


  It focuses on the author's intended meaning and message.
• How does Reader Response Criticism differ from Author Intention Criticism?


  Reader Response Criticism examines how readers interpret and respond to the text.
• What does Biological/Biographical Criticism analyze?


  It analyzes the author's life, background, and experiences that influenced the writing.
• What is the main focus of Cognitive Criticism?


  Cognitive Criticism studies how readers process and understand the text, including their mental and emotional responses.
• What does Moralist Criticism evaluate?


  It evaluates the text based on its moral values and messages.
• What is the focus of Queer Criticism?


  Queer Criticism examines the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals and experiences in the text.
• What does Socio-Political Criticism analyze?


  It analyzes the text's representation of social and political issues, structures, and power dynamics.
• What is the main focus of Sociological Criticism?

  Sociological Criticism examines a text's social context, structure, and relationships to understand its meaning and impact.