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Literary Criticism: An Autopsy (Critical Authors & Issues)

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This is an interesting way to conduct an autopsy. Rather than look directly for the cause of death, Professor Bauerlein looks at the language used by the perpetrators. Essentially, he takes approximately two dozen terms currently (1997) used commonly in literary studies, explains them and attempts to ascertain what they are really about, terms such as 'rethink', 'problematize' and 'radical'. The conclusion is that the words are essentially shortcuts. They enable young and undereducated scholars to advance themselves professionally by using intellectual shorthand to sound learned and worthy of admission to the exalted reaches of the professoriate. Basically, the methods to which the terms relate and the procedures in which they flourish are methods which are short on logic and historical evidence. Those methods simultaneously depreciate the importance of logic and historical evidence to validate the procedures which they have put in their place.

In an epilogue the author surveys literary studies from the late 1950's to the late 1990's. In the 1950's literary study involved broad coverage and deep specialization, the latter informed by the knowledge of a vast array of material. Twenty years later it consisted of the appropriation and application of the thought of one of the French Nietzscheans; now (i.e. twenty years later--1997) it consists of the study of power relationships, principally based on race, class and gender. The devolution process has essentially made literary study far easier, far more political, and far more predictable. At the same time, its vocabulary has been utilized to make it appear to be more learned, more difficult and more revolutionary.

Though this brief description may make the book sound like a screed, it is not. The examination of the terms is very learned and it is done through the use of carefully-applied logic and a vast array of examples. The author has not simply picked an example here and an example there and built a large argument on a thin superstructure. He has done his homework, even though the task has forced him to read a great deal of material which he finds wanting.

If you are used to reading Professor Bauerlein's writings on education, which are replete with statistical data, hard facts and survey results, this book offers the opportunity to observe him working with far more abstract material.

This is an important book with an important set of implied theses. While literary study represents a relatively small portion of the contemporary curriculum, it was once at the center of the liberal arts curriculum. Hence, its nature and ways are of disproportionately great importance for American (and British) higher education.