The Institutional Construction of Literary Study - Lecture 24

Explore the concept of critical identities in literary theory through an examination of Stanley Fish and John Guillory's work in this 51-minute lecture from Yale University's Introduction to Theory of Literature course. Delve into the emergence of literary identities using Tony the Tow Truck as a case study, and trace the evolution of Fish's theory of interpretive communities through his publications, with a focus on Milton's Paradise Lost. Investigate Guillory's perspective on interpretive communities and the culture wars, leading to discussions on the Western canon and multiculturalism. The lecture covers various aspects, including identity in theory and in children's literature, the introduction and development of interpretive communities, their limitations, and the role of schools in shaping literary interpretation.