Six New Trends in American Literary Studies
- 한국영미문학교육학회
- 영미문학교육
- 영미문학교육 제14집 2호
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2010.12287 - 312 (26 pages)
- 64

This essay offers an overview of critical trends in America based on the author's personal observations. Specifically, it discusses six key trends: the popularity of interdisciplinary approaches; a renewed interest in traditional critical methods; an increased attention to popular literature; a continued popularity of gender studies; an emphasis on under-represented people groups; and the rise of whiteness studies. Materials for this essay come from the UPenn English department's calls for papers website, select English course syllabi, and some of the recent academic and creative publications. In the author's view, literary studies in the United States will continue to maintain balance between traditional and postmodern views of literature. In general, doctorate-granting English departments will favor postmodern/poststructural approaches to literature, while English departments at hundreds of small Christian liberal arts colleges and universities will embrace more traditionally oriented critical methods.
I. Introduction
II. The Popularity of Interdisciplinary Approaches
III. A Renewed Interest in Traditional Critical Methods
IV. An Increased Attention to Popular Literature
V. A Continued Popularity of Gender Studies
VI. An Emphasis on Underrepresented People Groups
VII. The Rise of Whiteness Studies
VIII. Conclusion
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