0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Item not as described, September 13, 2010
This review is from: Modern Literary Theory: A Reader (Paperback)
The product entry said "Used - LIKE NEW". "Like New", in my entire experience, means LIGHT cover wear but no highlighting, underlining, dogeared corners or cracked spine. It means something that looks UN-used. My copy has HIGHLIGHTING, FRAYED edges, and a cracked spine. I am disappointed! I don't know if it's willful misdirection or perhaps this newly launched seller hasn't understood what "Like New" means.
This item was not as described. I am considering returning it and will contact the seller.
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4 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Garbage but important garbage for academics, April 4, 2006
This review is from: Modern Literary Theory: A Reader (Paperback)
This is the kind of book graduate programs assign in order to discuss important literary theories. And most of the literary theories in this collection are considered important by academics - which is why academic cultural criticism is so abyssmal. Deconstructionism, Marxism, Feminism and Historicism are all theories that have their place in the masturbatory realm of academic cultural criticism which has dominated most programs. All the essays use jargon to cover up their basic stupidity. You'll read essays about how categories are automatically patriarchal and sexist. You'll read Feminist Criticism which can all be encapsulized with "Everything this writer writes is sexist garbage" and you'll read Foucault's suspicious critique of mental illness as a social construct (of course, when those social constructs commit suicide, a fat lot of good that essay will do them). Of course, there's also Bell Hooks talking about how the standard literary criticism doesn't address racial concerns. Of course, Bell Hooks has yet to actually write anything that is honest-to-god literary criticism, but her attacks on literary criticism as not being leftwing enough are amusing. Now if only the leaders of the Civil Rights movement would just acknowledge the contribution made by a graduate students rabid critique of Moby Dick, maybe she'd be on to something.
Yet, amidst the clutter of babbling tomfoolery there are moments of clarity. Despite Gilber & Gruber's "Madwoman in the Attic" being loaded with the standard "women are marginalized", it's got enough power to justify its existence. The editors included Harold Bloom in the collection to discuss how most of the New Criticism schools are merely victim mentality and declare literature to be elitist and G-d bless it.
After reading msot of these essays, you'll either be a full blown academic drone or sending love letters to Harold Bloom (and Camille Paglia - his favorite disciple).
Of course, if you are thinking of buying this book, you probably have no choice.
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