Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory

Puspa Damai is Professor of English at Marshall University, WV, USA.

“Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: Concepts and Applications is a valuable book for undergraduate and new graduate students. The book offers a concise and clear overview of different schools of literary and cultural theory. The historical overview of a particular theoretical approach along with the key terms and theorists of that school are valuable. Additionally, the application of the theory to literary texts along with discussions of the limitations of an approach make this book an excellent addition to one’s library or for a course text. The extensive reference list at the end of each chapter gives the reader direction to deepen their understanding of the theory and concepts. I recommend this for faculty and students alike.”—Nalini Iyer, Professor of English, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, USA“Literary and cultural theories have changed continuously since they first burst into academic prominence in the late twentieth century. Throughout that time, these theories have reshaped countless fields, challenging students and researchers with their complexity and breadth. In this context, each successive era demands its own guidebook: one that covers the classics, yet attends to the latest developments; one that features newer voices even when framing canonical subjects. Puspa Damai’s new anthology, reflecting the latest developments without shirking the canon, commendably pursues all of these goals. All of the key topics are here, and the cutting edge, and the salutary unexpected. It will serve a fresh generation of students and a wide array of researchers with accessible depth.”—David Chioni Moore, PhD, Associate Professor of International Studies and English, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN, USA

• List of Contributors Introduction PUSPA DAMAI1 Russian Formalism SUBHAYU BHATTACHARJEE2 Structuralism PUSPA DAMAI3 Marxist Literary Theory JOHN K. YOUNG4 Psychoanalysis RYAN WANDER5 Reader Response Theory UBARAJ KATAWAL6 Post-structuralism RABINDRA CHAULAGAIN7 Feminist Literary Theory DANIEL LEWIS8 Queer Theory MARGARET SULLIVAN9 Cultural Studies JESSE CARLSON10 Race and Ethnic Studies DEBORAH THURMAN11 Postcolonial StudiesPRAMOD K. MISHRA12 Dalit Studies JYOTI BISWAS13 New Historicism AMANDA KELLOGG14 Ecocriticism TIMOTHY J. BURBERY15 Trauma Theory DYLAN LACKEY16 Memory Studies INAYAT ULLAH17 Film Theory WALTER SQUIRE18 Affect Theory LIBE GARCÍA ZARRANZ AND STELLA MILILLI19 Disability Theory AYUSHI JAISWAL AND SUJIT SINGH20 Animal Studies SCOTT MCDANIEL21 The Anthropocene PAYEL PAL22 Glitch Theory KRISTEN LILLVIS23 Digital Humanities ELISE TAKEHANAIndex