The Critical Pulse (eBook)

Jeffrey J. Williams is professor of English and literary and cultural studies at Carnegie Mellon University. His books include Theory and the Novel: Narrative Reflexivity in the English Tradition; PC Wars: Politics and Theory in the Academy; The Institution of Literature; and Critics at Work: Interviews. He is also a former editor of the minnesota review and coedits the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Heather Steffen is a Ph.D. candidate in literary and cultural studies at Carnegie Mellon University. She is working on a dissertation about academic labor and criticism of the university in the Progressive Era.

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Criticism in a Difficult TimeA Critic's Progress1. The Case for Scholarly Reporting, by Andrew Ross2. Declarations of Independence, by Amitava Kumar3. On Critique and Inheritance, by Lisa Lowe4. What I Believe and Why, by Vincent B. Leitch5. Hearing Losses and Gains, by Craig Womack6. Long Island Intellectual, by Jeffrey J. WilliamsAcademic Labor7. We Work, by Marc Bousquet8. What Is Criticism on Academic Labor For?, by Katie Hogan9. "All Things Visible and Invisible": Believing in Higher Education, by Michelle A. Massé10. Against Heroism, by John Conley11. Pack Consciousness, by Heather SteffenDeclarations of Politics12. Activism and Curriculum, by Paul Lauter13. Revolutionary Consciousness, by Cary Nelson14. Geopolitical Translators, by David B. Downing15. Critical Credo, by Barbara Foley16. This I Believed, by Michael Bérubé17. "Hope Dies Last": Cultural Studies and Studs Terkel, by Victor CohenPedagogical Moments18. Credo of a Teacher, by Gerald Graff19. Of Credos and Credibility, by William Germano20. Teaching Friction, by Ann Pellegrini21. Coerced Confessions, by Bruce Robbins22. On Race and Literature, by Kenneth Warren23. Teaching Theory, by Diana Fuss24. Affect Is the New Trauma, by Lauren BerlantThe Defense of Literature25. Access to the Universal: Language, Literature, and the Humanities, by Toril Moi26. Wrestling with the Angel: A Modest Critical Credo, by Morris Dickstein27. Everyday Aesthetics, by Rita Felski28. Criticism Is Vital, by David R. Shumway29. Critical Credo, by Mark Bauerlein30. Why I'm Still Writing Women's Literary History, by Devoney LooserNew Turns31. Without Evidence, by Stephen Burt32. All There Is to Use, by Mark Greif33. Open, by Kathleen Fitzpatrick34. Timing, by Mark McGurl35. The Politics of Small Problems, by Frances Negrón-Muntaner36. The Power of Unknowing, by Judith Jack HalberstamList of Contributors