Literary Criticism: Barthes vs. New Criticism

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Questions and Answers

What primary perspective does Fredric Jameson address in relation to Postmodernism?

Psychological perspective

Marxist perspective (correct)

Structuralist perspective

Feminist perspective

Which of the following best defines Postmodernism according to Tim Woods?

Strict adherence to modernist principles

Aesthetic self-reflexivity in art forms (correct)

A return to classical forms and structures in art

A focus on the universal human experience

How does Postmodernism characterize self, truth, and vision?

As singular and unified

As universally understood

As coherent, stable, and rational

As pluralistic and fragmented (correct)

What does Tim Woods argue regarding reason in Postmodernism?

Reason becomes plural and fragmented Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what aspect sets Postmodernism apart from modernism?

Its emphasis on pluralism and fragmentation Signup and view all the answers

What does the aesthetic self-reflexivity in Postmodernism suggest?

Art can comment on and explore its own construction Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the variety present in Postmodernism?

Plurality Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of the unit discussed?

To introduce readers to Jameson's views on Postmodernism Signup and view all the answers

What is Barthes' critique of New Criticism?

It identifies the text exclusively with the author. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Latin word 'individuus' signify in the context of individuality?

Undivided Signup and view all the answers

What term does Barthes use to refer to modern texts in contrast to traditional authorship?

Scriptor Signup and view all the answers

What is one of Fredric Jameson's primary areas of focus in his theories?

Modernism and Postmodernism Signup and view all the answers

According to Barthes, how is writing conceptualized in modern texts?

As linguistic performance. Signup and view all the answers

Fredric Jameson associates postmodernism with which socioeconomic context?

Late capitalism Signup and view all the answers

What does Barthes suggest about the relationship between the author and the text?

The author becomes a writer only through the act of writing. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barthes view the author's role in the creation of a text?

As a figure that has no bearing on the text's existence. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary theme of Jameson's works?

Individual psychological analysis Signup and view all the answers

Which work is attributed to Fredric Jameson regarding postmodernism?

Postmodernism or the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of surrealism does Barthes appreciate?

Its experimental use of language. Signup and view all the answers

How does Jameson characterize postmodern art in his essay on the politics of theory?

It generates mixed reactions from both progressive and reactionary critics. Signup and view all the answers

What does Barthes mean by every text being 'eternally written here and now'?

The writing context always influences interpretation. Signup and view all the answers

What intellectual tradition does Fredric Jameson mainly align with?

Marxism Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 'performative' in Barthes' argument about writing?

It asserts that the act of writing itself enacts meaning. Signup and view all the answers

In what year was Jameson's influential essay 'The Politics of Theory' first published?

1984 Signup and view all the answers

What does Baudrillard suggest about everyday experiences in a hyper-real world?

They are mediated through various forms of simulacra. Signup and view all the answers

What does Baudrillard mean by stating that life is now spectralised?

It indicates that the events of life are mediated and filtered by media. Signup and view all the answers

According to Baudrillard, what role do media play in perception?

They dissolve distinctions between reality and representation. Signup and view all the answers

In Baudrillard's view, what signifies the 'death of the real'?

The proliferation of copies found in digital media. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Baudrillard’s theory of simulation in contemporary society?

It sheds light on the politics and aesthetics of representation in the postmodern age. Signup and view all the answers

How does Baudrillard differentiate simulation from simulacra?

Simulation refers to the act of representation, while simulacra are the results of that act. Signup and view all the answers

What does Baudrillard imply about the nature of the medium in the current societal context?

The medium is now intangible and dispersed. Signup and view all the answers

Which term does Baudrillard use to describe the state of reality in the age of media proliferation?

Hyper-reality Signup and view all the answers

What does deconstruction challenge in the context of feminism?

Essentialist definitions of women Signup and view all the answers

How does Reader-Response criticism view the role of the reader?

As an active producer of meaning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'Commodity consumption' in philosophical discussions?

The critique of material possession and identity formation Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of Reader-Response criticism according to Wolfgang Iser?

It recognizes the reader’s role in filling gaps in the text. Signup and view all the answers

What does Spivak's feminist deconstruction primarily focus on?

Intersectionality of race, gender, and class Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective does Stanley Fish represent in Reader-Response criticism?

Interpretation is created by the reader or an interpretive community. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'Womb-envy' typically refer to?

A psychological theory about male jealousy of female biological functions Signup and view all the answers

How do phenomenological theories contribute to Reader-Response criticism?

By emphasizing the reader's emotional and sensory experiences Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Barthes and New Criticism

Barthes critiques New Criticism for its analytical and objective approach, asserting it inadequately removes the author from the text.
Claims the author inherently influences the text, likening this relationship to that of a father to a child, emphasizing the author's pre-existence to the work.
Represents writing as a performative act rather than a mere recording or depiction of reality, akin to linguistic acts like “I declare” or “I sing.”
Proposes the concept of the "scriptor," an author who emerges simultaneously with the text and does not exist prior to it.

Language and Writing

Argues that the act of writing is a linguistic process where the author is merely an instance of writing, disengaging cause-effect relations between author and text.
Writing embodies the current moment and context, denying the existence of a transcendent authorial identity.

Baudrillard’s Philosophy

Baudrillard theorizes that all human experiences are mediated through simulacra, resulting in a hyper-real world where reality intertwines with media.
Asserts that the boundaries of media have dissolved, leading to experiences that are never unmediated; life and media become one.
Prophesizes an anxiety over the death of the real due to the saturation of empty signs and the proliferation of copies in contemporary society.

Postmodernism Overview

Postmodernism is characterized by plurality and fragmentation in art forms, rejecting the notion of a unified rational self.
Reflects aesthetic self-reflexivity, where artworks comment on their own construction and nature, evident in various disciplines including literature and visual arts.

Fredric Jameson's Contributions

Jameson is recognized for his Marxist critique of postmodernism and its relation to the socioeconomic context of late capitalism.
He explores postmodernism as a facet of consumer society, suggesting it embodies the ideology of multinational capitalism.
Emphasizes the paradoxes within postmodern art and its valuations by diverse ideological critics.

Reader-Response Criticism

Reader-response criticism promotes the idea that the reader actively produces meaning rather than passively consuming it.
Highlights the complexity in tracing reader responses due to memory and expectation dynamics, calling it a fluid process.
Encompasses theories ranging from phenomenological approaches by Iser to Stanley Fish's relativistic views, emphasizing the interplay between text and reader interpretation.

Key Terms

Simulation: The imitation of situations or processes.
Simulacra: Copies or representations that do not have an original or real counterpart.
Hyper-reality: The condition where the distinction between reality and simulation blurs, leading to an enhanced or exaggerated state of existence.
Reader-Response Criticism: Examines how readers interact with and shape meanings of texts.
Deconstruction: A critical approach that seeks to understand the relationship between text and meaning by breaking down traditional structures and interpretations.
Late Capitalism: A term describing the contemporary phase of capitalism marked by consumer culture and global economic practices.

Progress Check

Evaluate understanding of concepts such as simulation, simulacra, and the essence of postmodernism as explored by key theorists.
Expand knowledge on feminist theory through critical approaches presented in texts by Spivak and others.

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Description

This quiz explores Roland Barthes' critique of New Criticism, focusing on his perspectives on authorial intent and the text's significance. It also examines Barthes' views on surrealism and its impact on language. Test your understanding of these critical theories and their implications in literary studies.