ON THE DEMON OF THEORY Cover Image

O démonovi teórie
ON THE DEMON OF THEORY

Author(s): Antoine Compagnon
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Ústav svetovej literatúry, Slovenská akadémia vied
Keywords: Paradox; Literary theory; Common sense; Theory of emotions; Politics of literature; Ethics of literature; Identity; Difference;

Summary/Abstract: The article describes the process of the origin of the book The Demon of Theory and appearing problems that are mentioned in connection to it. The book was written when the author was teaching French literature at Columbia University in New York. His American students enabled him to reflect on literature from theoretical perspective as well as that of a common reader. Literary theory is a protest against common sense, but it can also become a doctrine. Literature, therefore, has to challenge it. The author of The Demon of Theory shows the controversies and the dialectics of common sense and literary theory on seven theoretical terms: which form the contents of the seven chapters. The book describes the thinking of one generation of literary scholars from the second half of the 20th century. However, the situation has changed since then and many theoreticians have become literary critics. It is important to be a critic because literature’s place in the present world is different. One now has to answer the question about the status of literature in public space, in society, at school, as well as the question about its place in politics and ethics. Literature teaches one about difference and identity. It is not the theory which is responsible for the present situation. Therefore, one should not reject it. On the contrary, one should absorb it and return to literature. Literary theory needs new impulses from literature in order to articulate new problems.

  • Issue Year: 2008
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 3-12
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Slovak