Cultures of Criticism

Does literary studies have a history, and if so of what kind? In this course we will focus on and contextualise one pivotal moment, method or text in the history of literary studies as a discipline. This course will involve a rigorous case study in the development of a specific interpretative practice, an in-depth study of a specific critical community and/or a deep dive into the contexts and communities surrounding the creation, production and reception of a single text. Through placing critical practices within their social, political and historical context, students will gain a broader and deeper understanding of the debates that have shaped and continue to impact literary studies today. Topics could include but are not limited to: histories of rhetorical and poetic theories; histories of contesting canons; review cultures; literature and ethics; the production and reception of Shakespeare's work; Modernism and close reading; book clubs, fan cultures and the institution; the threats and promises that social media and AI bring to literary criticism. As this is a research-led course, the approach and focus will be shaped by the research specialisms of the convenor. In 2026 this course will be run as a 3-week intensive.