The Condition of English: Literary Studies in a Changing Culture

by Avrom Fleishman

Overview

Now that the political correctness controversy has cooled, a time for sober reflection on the field of English has arrived. In this insightful overview of English, and of literary studies, Fleishman employs both historical perspective and pragmatic sense about choices for the future. His approach is to apply recent strategies of contextual understanding to English itself. What can a class analysis tell us about the influence on the profession of the changing American socioeconomic system? What are the likely intellectual and professional outcomes of the curricular embrace of minority literatures, neglected authors, and popular culture? Beyond stimulating self-evaluation by English educators, this study prepares readers outside the field to selectively encourage new curricular and methodological opportunities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313306785
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/23/1998
Series:	Contributions to the Study of Education , #72
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)
Lexile:	1580L (what's this?)

About the Author

AVROM FLEISHMAN is Professor of English at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of seven books on Victorian and modern literature and film.

Table of Contents

Preface
Establishing shot—Academics of the New Class
Tracking shot—Origins and Outcomes
Wide angle—The Condition of English
Close up—Educating a New York Jewish Radical
Montage sequence—An English Department
Open ending—Expanding English/Extending English
Appendix—Intellectuals and Intelligentsia
Selected Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Fleishman (English, Johns Hopkins U.) assesses the state of the English department in the wake of the PC debate and the headlights of financial cutbacks. Analyzing current academic literature and his experience, he tracks changes in his own department over time and discusses their significance. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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