Lit.Guruji

Cultural Materialism – Complete Study Material Introduction Cultural Materialism is a literary and cultural theory that studies literature in relation to history, society, politics, ideology, class, and material conditions . It argues that literary texts are not isolated works of art. They are produced within particular social, economic, political, and cultural circumstances and may either support or challenge existing power structures. The term is strongly associated with Raymond Williams , while important developments in literary criticism came from critics such as Jonathan Dollimore, Alan Sinfield, and Catherine Belsey . Easy Definition Cultural Materialism studies literature as a product of material, social, political, and cultural conditions. 1. Origin of Cultural Materialism Cultural Materialism developed particularly in British literary and cultural studies during the late 1970s and 1980s . It draws upon: Marxism Cultural studies Raymond Williams's theories of culture Anto...

New Historicism – Complete Study Material Introduction New Historicism is a literary theory that studies literature in relation to the historical, social, political, cultural, and ideological conditions in which it was produced. It argues that a literary text cannot be completely understood in isolation from its historical context. New Historicist critics examine the relationship between: Literature + History + Power + Culture + Ideology Unlike traditional historicism, which often treats history as a background to literature, New Historicism considers literary texts and historical documents as interconnected forms of cultural discourse . Simple Definition New Historicism is a critical approach that interprets literary texts alongside the social, political, cultural, and historical discourses of their period. 1. Origin of New Historicism New Historicism became influential particularly during the 1980s . The movement is strongly associated with: Stephen Greenblatt Greenblatt played a m...

Queer Theory – Complete Study Material Introduction Queer Theory is a field of literary and cultural criticism that examines sexuality, gender identity, gender norms, heterosexuality, desire, and the social construction of identity . It questions the assumption that there are only fixed, natural, and universal categories of: Male and female Masculine and feminine Heterosexual and homosexual Normal and abnormal Queer Theory argues that identities and sexual categories are shaped by language, culture, society, history, and power . Simple Definition Queer Theory is a critical approach that questions fixed ideas about gender and sexuality and examines how identities are constructed through social, cultural and linguistic practices. 1. Meaning of “Queer” Historically, “queer” was used as a derogatory term for people whose sexuality or gender did not conform to dominant norms. Later, the term was reclaimed and used as a broader critical concept. In academic theory, “queer” can refer to: No...

Feminist Literary Theory – Complete Study Material Introduction Feminist Literary Theory is a critical approach that examines literature from the perspective of gender, women's experiences, patriarchy, power, sexuality, representation, and inequality . It questions the ways in which literature has traditionally represented women and examines how male-dominated social, cultural, political, and literary structures influence texts. Feminist criticism asks: How are women represented in literature? Who has the power in a literary text? Are female characters given agency? How does patriarchy influence the story? Why have women's writers historically been marginalized? How does language represent gender? How are women's experiences connected with class, race, sexuality and culture? 1. What Is Feminism? Feminism is a movement and intellectual tradition concerned with achieving equality and challenging systems of gender-based oppression . Feminist literary criticism applies femin...