New Critical Idiom – serie

Ecocriticism explores the ways in which we imagine and portray the relationship between humans and the environment across many areas of cultural production, including Romantic poetry, wildlife documentaries, climate models, the Hollywood blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, and novels by Margaret Atwood, Kim Scott, Barbara Kingsolver and Octavia Butler. Greg Garrard’s animated and accessible volume responds to the diversity of the field today and explores its key concepts, including:pollutionpastoralwildernessapocalypseanimalsIndigeneitythe Earth.Thoroughly revised to reflect the breadth and diversity of twenty-first-century environmental writing and criticism, this edition addresses climate change and justice throughout, and features a new chapter on Indigeneity. It also presents a glossary of terms and suggestions for further reading.Concise, clear and authoritative, Ecocriticism offers the ideal introduction to this crucial subject for students of literary and cultural studies.

The new edition of Travel Writing is an accessible and interdisciplinary guide to this prolific and popular literary genre. Carl Thompson offers a clear and concise overview of the long history of travel writing from the ancient world to the present day.Considering a wide range of primary sources from Sir Walter Raleigh to Jenny Diski, the extensively updated second edition:introduces the genre and outlines key debates within the field, such as gender, sexuality, postcolonial studies, and visual culture;explores the genre’s autobiographical dimensions and different approaches for depicting the self;surveys a range of canonical and more marginal works, featuring new discussion of refugee and migrant narratives and LGBTQ travel writing;includes a new chapter walking readers through the developments in the genre since the first edition, such as online forms, environmentalism and ecocriticism, and travel writing as an increasingly transnational, multicultural genre.With a comprehensive glossary and further reading, Travel Writing, Second Edition is an ideal primer to the genre for students – bridging the gap between distant times and distant places – as well as offering literary studies scholars an essential overview of current debates in the field.

The new edition of Travel Writing is an accessible and interdisciplinary guide to this prolific and popular literary genre. Carl Thompson offers a clear and concise overview of the long history of travel writing from the ancient world to the present day.Considering a wide range of primary sources from Sir Walter Raleigh to Jenny Diski, the extensively updated second edition:introduces the genre and outlines key debates within the field, such as gender, sexuality, postcolonial studies, and visual culture;explores the genre’s autobiographical dimensions and different approaches for depicting the self;surveys a range of canonical and more marginal works, featuring new discussion of refugee and migrant narratives and LGBTQ travel writing;includes a new chapter walking readers through the developments in the genre since the first edition, such as online forms, environmentalism and ecocriticism, and travel writing as an increasingly transnational, multicultural genre.With a comprehensive glossary and further reading, Travel Writing, Second Edition is an ideal primer to the genre for students – bridging the gap between distant times and distant places – as well as offering literary studies scholars an essential overview of current debates in the field.

Does fiction enhance reality, or threaten our sense of what is real? What, if anything, is special about experiencing fictional works and worlds? Today we speak casually of parallel universes and virtual reality; how much do we really know about what these phenomena involve?In Fictionality, Karen Petroski explains how philosophers and literary theorists have approached these questions in the Western literary tradition, from Greek antiquity to the present day. The book introduces readers to both long-running and contemporary debates about:The value and dangers of engagement with fictionThe origins of fictional artworks, especially literary works, in Western literatureThe role played by imagination in engaging with fictionThe peculiarities of fictional "worlds"The structure of linguistic reference within fictional artworksThe functions of fictionality in non-linguistic artworks such as film and televisionThe role played by fictionality outside artworks, for example, in philosophy, law, and politicsFictionality offers an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this field of increasing critical and theoretical interest. Bringing together theoretical insights from a variety of perspectives, it will be an essential resource for anyone studying fictionality.

Does fiction enhance reality, or threaten our sense of what is real? What, if anything, is special about experiencing fictional works and worlds? Today we speak casually of parallel universes and virtual reality; how much do we really know about what these phenomena involve?In Fictionality, Karen Petroski explains how philosophers and literary theorists have approached these questions in the Western literary tradition, from Greek antiquity to the present day. The book introduces readers to both long-running and contemporary debates about:The value and dangers of engagement with fictionThe origins of fictional artworks, especially literary works, in Western literatureThe role played by imagination in engaging with fictionThe peculiarities of fictional "worlds"The structure of linguistic reference within fictional artworksThe functions of fictionality in non-linguistic artworks such as film and televisionThe role played by fictionality outside artworks, for example, in philosophy, law, and politicsFictionality offers an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this field of increasing critical and theoretical interest. Bringing together theoretical insights from a variety of perspectives, it will be an essential resource for anyone studying fictionality.

Poetry criticism is a subject central to the study of literature. However, it is laden with technical terms that, to the beginning student, can be both intimidating and confusing. Philip Hobsbaum provides a welcome remedy, illuminating terms ranging from the iambus to the bob-wheel stanza, and forms from the Spenserian sonnet to modern 'rap', with clarity and comprehensiveness. It is an essential guide through the terminology which will be invaluable reading for undergraduates new to the subject.

Richard Bradford provides a definitive introductory guide to modern critical ideas on literary style and stylistics. It will provide students with a basic grasp of stylistics and literary analysis.This comprehensive and accessible guidebook for undergraduates examines:* the terminology of literary form* how literary style has evolved since the sixteenth century* the role of stylistics in twentieth century criticism* the discipline of stylistics from classical rhetoric to post-structuralism* the relationship between literary style and its historical context* style and gender* examples of poems, plays and novels from Shakespeare to the present day.

Richard Bradford provides a definitive introductory guide to modern critical ideas on literary style and stylistics. It will provide students with a basic grasp of stylistics and literary analysis.This comprehensive and accessible guidebook for undergraduates examines:* the terminology of literary form* how literary style has evolved since the sixteenth century* the role of stylistics in twentieth century criticism* the discipline of stylistics from classical rhetoric to post-structuralism* the relationship between literary style and its historical context* style and gender* examples of poems, plays and novels from Shakespeare to the present day.

Culture/Metaculture is a stimulating introduction to the meanings of 'culture' in contemporary Western society. This essential survey examines:* culture as an antidote to 'mass' modernity, in the work of Thomas Mann, Julien Benda, José Ortega y Gasset, Karl Mannheim and F. R. Leavis* changing views of the term in the work of Sigmund Freud, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, T. S. Eliot and Richard Hoggart* post-war theories of 'popular' culture and the rise of Cultural Studies, paying particular attention to the key figures of Raymond Williams and Stuart Hall* theories of 'metaculture', or the ways in which culture, however defined, speaks of itself.Francis Mulhern's interdisciplinary approach allows him to draw out the fascinating links between key political issues and the changing definitions of culture. The result is an unrivalled introduction to a concept at the heart of contemporary critical thought.

Culture/Metaculture is a stimulating introduction to the meanings of 'culture' in contemporary Western society. This essential survey examines:* culture as an antidote to 'mass' modernity, in the work of Thomas Mann, Julien Benda, José Ortega y Gasset, Karl Mannheim and F. R. Leavis* changing views of the term in the work of Sigmund Freud, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, T. S. Eliot and Richard Hoggart* post-war theories of 'popular' culture and the rise of Cultural Studies, paying particular attention to the key figures of Raymond Williams and Stuart Hall* theories of 'metaculture', or the ways in which culture, however defined, speaks of itself.Francis Mulhern's interdisciplinary approach allows him to draw out the fascinating links between key political issues and the changing definitions of culture. The result is an unrivalled introduction to a concept at the heart of contemporary critical thought.

Poetry criticism is a subject central to the study of literature. However, it is laden with technical terms that, to the beginning student, can be both intimidating and confusing. Philip Hobsbaum provides a welcome remedy, illuminating terms ranging from the iambus to the bob-wheel stanza, and forms from the Spenserian sonnet to modern 'rap', with clarity and comprehensiveness. It is an essential guide through the terminology which will be invaluable reading for undergraduates new to the subject.

This introductory volume provides an overview of the history of Literature as a cultural concept, and reflects on the contemporary nature, place and function of what the literary might mean for us today. Literature:* offers a concise history of the canonic concept of 'literature' from its earliest origins* illustrates the kinds of theoretical issues which are currently invoked by the term 'literary'* provides a definition of the 'literary' for the twenty-first centuryWith Literature Peter Widdowson provides a thought-provoking essay on the contemporary relevance of the 'literary' for students.

Parody is part of all our lives. It occurs not only in literature, but also in everyday speech, in theatre and television, architecture and films. Drawing on examples from Aristophanes to The Simpsons, Simon Dentith explores:* the place of parody in the history of literature* parody as a subversive or conservative mode of writing* parody's pivotal role in debates about postmodernism* parody in the culture wars from ancient times to the presentThis lively introduction situates parody at the heart of literary and cultural studies and offers a remarkably clear guide to this sometimes complex topic. Parody will serve as an essential resource, to be read and re-read by students of all levels.

Parody is part of all our lives. It occurs not only in literature, but also in everyday speech, in theatre and television, architecture and films. Drawing on examples from Aristophanes to The Simpsons, Simon Dentith explores:* the place of parody in the history of literature* parody as a subversive or conservative mode of writing* parody's pivotal role in debates about postmodernism* parody in the culture wars from ancient times to the presentThis lively introduction situates parody at the heart of literary and cultural studies and offers a remarkably clear guide to this sometimes complex topic. Parody will serve as an essential resource, to be read and re-read by students of all levels.

This book traces the phenomenon of class from the medieval to the postmodern period, uniquely examining its relevance to literary and cultural analysis. Drawing on historical, sociological and literary writings, Gary Day:* gives an account of class at different historical moments* shows the role of class in literary constructions of the social* examines the complex relations between 'class' and 'culture'* focuses attention on the role of class in constructions of 'the literary' and 'the canon'* employs a revived and revised notion of class to critique recent theoretical movements.

This book traces the phenomenon of class from the medieval to the postmodern period, uniquely examining its relevance to literary and cultural analysis. Drawing on historical, sociological and literary writings, Gary Day:* gives an account of class at different historical moments* shows the role of class in literary constructions of the social* examines the complex relations between 'class' and 'culture'* focuses attention on the role of class in constructions of 'the literary' and 'the canon'* employs a revived and revised notion of class to critique recent theoretical movements.

The unconscious is a term which is central to the understanding of psychoanalysis, and, indeed everyday life. In this introductory guide, Antony Easthope provides a witty and accessible overview of the subject showing the reality of the unconscious with a startling variety of examples. He takes us on a vivid guided tour of this troubling topic via jokes, rugby songs, Hamlet, Hitchcock's Psycho, and the life and death of Princess Di.Aimed at the absolute beginner, The Unconscious is an enjoyable and easy-to-read introduction for the student and general reader.

Often derided as an inferior form of literature, 'romance' as a literary mode or genre defies satisfactory definition, dividing critics, scholars and readers alike. This useful guidebook traces the myriad transformations of 'romance' from medieval courtly love to Mills and Boon, and claims that its elusive and complex nature serves as a touchstone for larger questions of literary and cultural theory, such as:How does the history of 'romance' as a category force us to rethink the historicization of literary genres?What definitions can we provide for our own time to help us recognize and analyze new forms of 'romance'?To what extent is the resistance to romance a resistance to the imaginative force of literature?The case for 'romance' as a concept is presented clearly and imaginatively, arguing that its usefulness to contemporary critics can be maintained if it is regarded as a literary strategy rather than a fixed genre. In encouraging the reader to consider the fluidity of literature, Romance will be of equal value to all students of historical and comparative literatures and of modern literary forms.

Difference is one of the most influential critical concepts of recent decades. Mark Currie offers a comprehensive account of the history of the term and its place in some of the most influential schools of theory of the past four decades, including post-structuralism, deconstruction, new historicism, psychoanalysis, French feminism and postcolonialism. Employing literary case studies throughout, Difference provides an accessible introduction to a term at the heart of today's critical idiom.

The dramatic monologue is traditionally associated with Victorian poets such as Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson, and is generally considered to have disappeared with the onset of modernism in the twentieth century. Glennis Byron unravels its history and argues that, contrary to belief, the monologue remains popular to this day. This far-reaching and neatly structured volume:* explores the origins of the monologue and presents a history of definitions of the term* considers the monologue as a form of social critique* explores issues at play in our understanding of the genre, such as subjectivity, gender and politics* traces the development of the genre through to the present day.Taking as example the increasingly politicized nature of contemporary poetry, the author clearly and succinctly presents an account of the monologue's growing popularity over the past twenty years.

Coming to prominence with the nineteenth-century novel, literary realism has most often been associated with the insistence that art cannot turn away from the more sordid and harsh aspects of human existence. However, because realism is unavoidably tied up with the gnarly concept of 'reality' and 'the real', it has been one of the most widely debated terms in the New Critical Idiom series.This volume offers a clear, reader-friendly guide to debates around realism, examining:*ideas of realism in nineteenth-century French and British fiction*the twentieth-century formalist reaction against literature's status as 'truth'*realism as a democratic tool, or utopian form.This volume is vital reading for any student of literature, in particular those working on the realist novel.

What is implied when we refer to the study of performing arts as 'drama', 'theatre' or 'performance'? Each term identifies a different tradition of thought and offers different possibilities to the student or practitioner. This book examines the history and use of the terms and investigates the different philosophies, politics, languages and institutions with which they are associated. Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis:analyze attitudes to drama, theatre and performance at different historical juncturestrace a range of political interventions into the field(s)explore and contextualise the institutionalisation of drama and theatre as university subjects, then the emergence of 'performance' as practice, theory and academic disciplinesguide readers through major approaches to drama, theatre and performance, from theatre history, through theories of ritual or play, to the idea of performance as paradigm for a postmodern agediscuss crucial terms such as action, alienation, catharsis, character, empathy, interculturalism, mimesis, presence or representation in a substantial 'keywords' section.Continually linking their analysis to wider cultural concerns, the authors here offer the most wide-ranging and authoritative guide available to a vibrant, fast-moving field and vigorous debates about its nature, purpose and place in the academy.

What is implied when we refer to the study of performing arts as 'drama', 'theatre' or 'performance'? Each term identifies a different tradition of thought and offers different possibilities to the student or practitioner. This book examines the history and use of the terms and investigates the different philosophies, politics, languages and institutions with which they are associated. Simon Shepherd and Mick Wallis:analyze attitudes to drama, theatre and performance at different historical juncturestrace a range of political interventions into the field(s)explore and contextualise the institutionalisation of drama and theatre as university subjects, then the emergence of 'performance' as practice, theory and academic disciplinesguide readers through major approaches to drama, theatre and performance, from theatre history, through theories of ritual or play, to the idea of performance as paradigm for a postmodern agediscuss crucial terms such as action, alienation, catharsis, character, empathy, interculturalism, mimesis, presence or representation in a substantial 'keywords' section.Continually linking their analysis to wider cultural concerns, the authors here offer the most wide-ranging and authoritative guide available to a vibrant, fast-moving field and vigorous debates about its nature, purpose and place in the academy.

In this handy volume, Claire Colebrook offers an overview of the history and structure of irony, from Socrates to the present.Students will welcome this clear, concise guide, which:*traces the use of the concept through history, from Greek times to the Romantic period and on to the postmodern era*looks closely at the work of Socrates and the more contemporary theorists Jacques Derrida and Gilles Deleuze*explores the philosophical, literary and political dimensions of irony*applies theories of irony to literary textsMaking even the most difficult debates accessible and clear, this is the ideal student introduction to the many theories of irony.

In this handy volume, Claire Colebrook offers an overview of the history and structure of irony, from Socrates to the present.Students will welcome this clear, concise guide, which:*traces the use of the concept through history, from Greek times to the Romantic period and on to the postmodern era*looks closely at the work of Socrates and the more contemporary theorists Jacques Derrida and Gilles Deleuze*explores the philosophical, literary and political dimensions of irony*applies theories of irony to literary textsMaking even the most difficult debates accessible and clear, this is the ideal student introduction to the many theories of irony.

Bestselling novels by Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and a multitude of others have enchanted us by blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Their genre of writing has been variously defined as 'magic', 'magical' or 'marvellous' realism and is quickly becoming a core area of literary studies. This guide offers a first step for those wishing to consider this area in greater depth, by:exploring the many definitions and terms used in relation to the genretracing the origins of the movement in painting and fictionoffering an historical overview of the contexts for magic(al) realismproviding analysis of key works of magic(al) realist fiction, film and art.This is an essential guide for those interested in or studying one of today's most popular genres.

Bestselling novels by Angela Carter, Salman Rushdie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and a multitude of others have enchanted us by blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Their genre of writing has been variously defined as 'magic', 'magical' or 'marvellous' realism and is quickly becoming a core area of literary studies. This guide offers a first step for those wishing to consider this area in greater depth, by:exploring the many definitions and terms used in relation to the genretracing the origins of the movement in painting and fictionoffering an historical overview of the contexts for magic(al) realismproviding analysis of key works of magic(al) realist fiction, film and art.This is an essential guide for those interested in or studying one of today's most popular genres.

Simon Malpas investigates the theories and definitions of postmodernism and postmodernity, and explores their impact in such areas as identity, history, art, literature and culture. In attempting to map the different forms of the postmodern, and the contrasting experiences of postmodernity in the Western and developing worlds, he looks closely at:* modernism and postmodernism* modernity and postmodernity* subjectivity* history* politics.This useful guidebook will introduce students to a range of key thinkers who have sought to question the contemporary situation, and will enable readers to begin to approach the primary texts of postmodern theory and culture with confidence.

Simon Malpas investigates the theories and definitions of postmodernism and postmodernity, and explores their impact in such areas as identity, history, art, literature and culture. In attempting to map the different forms of the postmodern, and the contrasting experiences of postmodernity in the Western and developing worlds, he looks closely at:* modernism and postmodernism* modernity and postmodernity* subjectivity* history* politics.This useful guidebook will introduce students to a range of key thinkers who have sought to question the contemporary situation, and will enable readers to begin to approach the primary texts of postmodern theory and culture with confidence.