Literary Theory: New Historicism and Cultural Materialism

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What aspect does new historicism particularly focus on in literature?

The discursive construction of identity (correct)

The individual creativity of the author

The universal themes present in texts

The literary work's autonomy

Which theorist is associated with the concept of cultural materialism?

Michel Foucault

Raymond Williams (correct)

Stephen Greenblatt

Marx Marx

In what way does cultural materialism view social structures?

As secondary to individual genius

As purely historical constructions

As dynamic with possibilities for subversion (correct)

As fixed and unchangeable

According to new historicism, how are identities formed?

Through discursive construction (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does new historicism suggest about the relationship between literature and history?

Literature actively participates in making history (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main interests of cultural materialism?

How dominant social orders legitimize themselves (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the new historicist view on the role of power in literature?

Literature cannot help but serve as a vehicle for power dynamics (B) Signup and view all the answers

What thematic emphasis is noted in the early modern period according to cultural materialism?

The importance of fulfilling marriages (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does Stephen Greenblatt imply about the creation of artworks?

Artworks result from negotiations within a shared cultural context (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does new historicism view texts in relation to power?

Texts can both embody and challenge power processes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does Foucault emphasize in his writings instead of individual agency?

Discourses as instruments of power (A) Signup and view all the answers

In Foucault's view, what is the primary illusion of the humanist concept of the individual?

Individuals have complete agency over their lives (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role does Foucault attribute to Enlightenment thinking in shaping societal knowledge?

It marginalized groups under the guise of discipline (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does Foucault's concept of 'archaeologies' aim to reveal?

How apparent objectivity masks power relations (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does Foucault suggest about resistance to repression?

It originates from specific subject positions (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did Foucault argue about the concept of homosexuality and its emergence in the late nineteenth century?

The homosexual became a distinct 'species' during this time. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to Homi Bhabha, which of the following concepts are most closely associated with postcolonial theory?

Colonizer's oppression and mimicry. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the subaltern as described by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak?

A heterogeneous group that lacks a voice in society. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which literary work by Chinua Achebe critiques colonial narratives?

Things Fall Apart (A) Signup and view all the answers

How is 'Commonwealth literature' viewed in the context of postcolonial studies?

As hierarchical and eurocentric. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of hybrid cultural forms in postcolonial theory?

They can be productive and facilitate cultural fusion. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'auto-orientalist representation' imply in postcolonial studies?

Colonized individuals depicting themselves through colonial stereotypes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a central aspect of postcolonial studies as described?

Critique of Eurocentrism and its impact on identity (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is noted for his contributions to postcolonial theory?

Homi Bhabha (C) Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the merging of indigenous and non-indigenous cultures?

Hybrid subjectivities (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does Edward Said characterize the Orient in his work?

As a fabricated and imaginative geography (C) Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Orientalism support Western imperialism?

By creating a sense of Western superiority (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'binary oppositions' in the context of Orientalism?

A construct that separates Eastern and Western identities (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following texts is associated with postcolonial studies and its new readings?

Heart of Darkness (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary theme explored in postcolonial studies?

Neo-colonial repression and resistance (D) Signup and view all the answers

What influence does Foucault have on Edward Said's work?

Discourse analysis and power relations (D) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the 'imaginary' stage in Lacan's theory?

Existence in a world filled with impressions and fantasies without language. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does Lacan mean by the 'symbolic' order?

The representation of the real world through language and social systems. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does Lacan describe the transition from the 'imaginary' to the 'symbolic'?

Via the 'mirror stage', which involves misrecognition. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'nom du père' signify in Lacan's framework?

The cultural representation of authority and societal norms. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of language in Lacan's conception of subjectivity?

It is crucial for constructing self-identity through interaction with others. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the 'real' in Lacan's three orders?

The 'real' represents ideas that can never be fully represented. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'phallocentric' refer to in Lacan's discussion?

A critique of the belief that maleness is the sole source of authority. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What essential aspect does Lacan highlight about identity development?

Identity is formed through recognition and interaction with others. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Lacan's concept of the 'mirror stage' illustrate?

The misrecognition that influences identity formation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the 'imaginary' and 'symbolic' stages?

The 'symbolic' develops from the foundations laid in the 'imaginary' stage. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sexuality, Literature, Culture and Queer Studies

Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu exemplifies how homosexual relationships were often disguised as heterosexual ones. The novel includes gender ambiguities and coded references.
Queer Theory critiques traditional views of sexuality. It has evolved from a term that disparaged homosexuality into a proud banner.
Michel Foucault's work, notably The History of Sexuality, argues sexuality is a discourse, not an inherent identity, in Western culture. This discourse produces and controls notions of homosexuality and other 'deviant' sexualities.
Judith Butler posits that concepts of gender and sexuality are performative acts rather than fixed identities.
Alan Sinfield connects subcultures, like sexual subcultures, as sites of potential power resistance to dominant ideologies.
Eve Sedgwick's Epistemology of the Closet argues homosexuality became a distinct category in the late 19th century.

Postcolonial Studies

Edward Said's Orientalism critiques the West's depiction of the East using binary oppositions (e.g., civilization vs. savagery).
Homi Bhabha explored mimicry and hybridity in colonial encounters.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak discusses the subaltern, those marginalized by colonial powers, who are frequently unheard.
Postcolonial studies challenge the binary, simplistic views of the world, often with a focus on the relationship between the West and the East.
Culture is not fixed or natural; it is constructed. Colonialist cultures are constructed.

Postcolonial Criticism and Theory

Cultural self-definition and political self-determination were major driving forces in the 1960s and 1970s, as former colonies sought liberation and independence.
Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is a crucial text in this area.
Eurocentrism in literary studies was contested.
Commonwealth Literature Studies was considered hierarchical and Eurocentric.
The human relations between Colonizer and colonized were scrutinized using a Marxist perspective.

The New Historicism and Cultural Materialism

Both approaches challenge the idea of a text's inherent meaning that is independent of its historical context.
The New Historicism takes power and discourse as central, arguing that texts should be studied as part of their historical setting.
Cultural Materialism examines how texts reflect and shape ideology and social relations of power.
Both approaches reject the idea of the author as a detached, independent creator. They recognize power relations in the historical context.
Emphasis is on the interaction between texts and their historical periods.

French Feminism

French feminists like Hélène Cixous explored "écriture féminine" (feminine writing) as a way of challenging conventional patriarchal thought.
Julia Kristeva's ideas on the symbolic and the semiotic provide insight into how language constructs meaning, particularly with regards to gender.
Postmodern theory and criticism in the humanities emphasized the instability of definitions.

Lacan

Lacan's psychoanalysis emphasizes the role of language (symbolic) in shaping identity.
Lacan criticizes earlier psychoanalytic thought for its supposed universal application.
The "mirror stage" in Lacanian theory explains how one defines oneself through other's views.

Discourse

Michel Foucault's concept of discourse highlights the importance of language in establishing power structures.
Power operates through various discourse. Discourses can be contested.
Power is both repressive and productive. It is seen as pervasive and omnipresent. It produces rules to govern knowledge.
Poststructuralism criticizes ideas of essential identity.
Essentialism refers to the view of identities (e.g., gender, sexuality, race) as in their nature, unchangeable and immutable.
Poststructuralism embraces the constant changes and flow of meaning.

Foucauldian Power

Foucault argued that power is not a singular entity but rather a complex network or system that operates through multiple channels.
His concept of the panopticon illustrates how surveillance and the expectation of being watched can shape behavior.
The panopticon represents a model to understand how social control operates.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores key concepts of New Historicism and Cultural Materialism in literature. It addresses the relationship between literature and history, the formation of identities, and the role of power in texts. Engage with critical theories and their impact on literary analysis.