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Professing Criticism 2022
Professing Criticism: Essays on the Organization of Literary Study is a 2022 nonfiction book published by literary scholar John Guillory. The work emerges from a response to a review by Bruce Robbins, who prompted Guillory to question how scholars justify their practices. Guillory reflects on whether such justification requires demonstrating political influence. He argues that linking professional literary study with societal criticism has excessively encouraged scholars to overstate their social relevance. This conflation leads to unwarranted assertions about the political power of their work. According to Guillory, professors should develop better methods for discussing their profession and promoting intelligent reading. He suggests that fostering reading skills represents a vital task for educated citizens. Such an endeavor offers a meaningful political role without excessive self-praise. The book explores these concerns through essays addressing literary study's structure and purpose.
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- Pages
- 456
