In+Current+Events

Modern Literary Criticism
As with the past, many authors now criticize the works of other authors: past and present. Now, literary criticism is a term and idea that is part of any literature class. The literary theory discusses literature's methods and goals. It is the criticism that is taught in classes.

The new criticism dominates studies and discussions now, emphasizing the close reading of texts, setting aside the author's intention, the author's psychology, and the author's biography. This modern study focuses on attention to the words themselves and the technical form of the words, otherwise known as structuralism.

The interest in literary theory and criticism lies primarily in universities, with many types of literary criticisms from which to view a book. Now, however, critcism has been exteneded to the cinemas and media studies.



One famous contemporary literary critic is I. A. Richards. He was the author of several books including //The Meaning of Meaning// and //The Philosophy of Rhetoric//. These books were amoung several that gave rise to the New Criticism literary criticism method. Richards is therefore one of the founders of contemporary literary studies. Though without formal training, Richards succeeded as a teacher and mentor at Cambridge.

As time goes on, more movements become prominent. The 20th century held the feminist movements and equality for all citizens, white or colored. As Twain's society was changing, so does modern America. Contemporary writers also criticize previous works and other authors, as Richards did in his works. Twain would support this criticism and would perhaps enjoy some modern works of literature as realism is heavily influential in contemporary novels.

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