"Anti-authoritarianism" or "authoritarianism"? Possibility or refusal? Criticism of the book "A New Look at Literary Theory" written by Issa Amankhani

Document Type : Original Research

Author
Hamed Tavakoli darestani
phd student of shahd chamran university
Abstract
Literary criticism and theory, due to its interdisciplinary approach, often encompasses literary, philosophical, social, and historical concepts. This makes understanding theories and applying them to literary texts complex and difficult. Against this background, Issa Amankhani's book "A New Look at Literary Theory" (1400) is an original and critical study that aims to explain and refine literary theories, sources, and also the application of these theories in literary texts with a new approach and in simple language. The main principle and premise of the book is that literary theories have emerged through "self-grounded authoritarianism" and the emergence of any "theory" is due to its "parallel work" and "opposition" with the theory. Therefore, the basic premise of the book is based on the emergence of "anti-authoritarian" theories, and based on this, all literary theories are divided into three approaches or three subgroups of author/subject-oriented theories. It divides the anti-author/subject theories and the anti-structural theories and classifies them into one of the three approaches mentioned above on the basis of the "dominant element" and "family resemblance" of each theory. However, the approach of the new foundation of the book, which, besides its value and originality, comes from the innovative mind of the writer, critic and inquisitor, suffers from frequent simplifications and reductionisms, limitations and finally "contradictions" in the course of writing. "Fundamental" that we will explain in detail the various aspects in the rest of the article. The present article, while reading and carefully examining the said book; It suggests and shows that the respected author, in the next editions, even if possible, points such as the book as a textbook, more flexibility, avoiding restrictions on categories, comprehensiveness and avoiding simplification and reduction. - Zeid's diligence.

Extended abstract

1. Introduction

Literary criticism and theory, due to its interdisciplinary approach, often encompasses literary, philosophical, social, and historical concepts. This makes understanding theories and applying them to literary texts complex and difficult. Against this background, Issa Amankhani's book "A New Look at Literary Theory" (1400) is an original and critical study that aims to explain and refine literary theories, sources, and also the application of these theories in literary texts with a new approach and in simple language. The main principle and premise of the book is that literary theories have emerged through "self-grounded authoritarianism" and the emergence of any "theory" is due to its "parallel work" and "opposition" with the theory. Therefore, the basic premise of the book is based on the emergence of "anti-authoritarian" theories, and based on this, all literary theories are divided into three approaches or three subgroups of author/subject-oriented theories. It divides the anti-author/subject theories and the anti-structural theories and classifies them into one of the three approaches mentioned above on the basis of the "dominant element" and "family resemblance" of each theory. However, the approach of the new foundation of the book, which, besides its value and originality, comes from the innovative mind of the writer, critic and inquisitor, suffers from frequent simplifications and reductionisms, limitations and finally "contradictions" in the course of writing. "Fundamental" that we will explain in detail the various aspects in the rest of the article. The present article, while reading and carefully examining the said book; It suggests and shows that the respected author, in the next editions, even if possible, points such as the book as a textbook, more flexibility, avoiding restrictions on categories, comprehensiveness and avoiding simplification and reduction. - Zeid's diligence.

2-Theoretical framework

Based on the theoretical and philosophical foundations of literary theories, the present article has criticized the views, opinions and divisions of the book "A new look at literary theory" written by Isa Amankhani.

3- Research method

This article is based on a library study and was written with a descriptive-analytical method. The present article is written based on "sympathetic" dialectic and dialogue and "critical" attitude and avoiding "sentimentalism" in order to "scientifically" explain some ambiguities, shortcomings and conflicts in the book.

4- Findings of research and discussion

The book "A New Look at Literary Theory" is one of the critical and scholarly books on literary theories that aims to analyze, review and classify literary theories with a new approach. Through discussions and new classifications, this book has thoughtful words about literary theories. However, the fact that it is new leads some parts of the book to be questioned. By finding some common elements in literary theories and relying on the greatest "family resemblance" that the theories have with each other, Amankhani intends to divide all modern literary theories into three subgroups of "subject" theories: Author-Centered," "Subject/Author-Anti-Author," and "Anti-Structuralist." At first glance, this categorization leads the audience, especially students, to encounter specific, revised, and transparent discussions. But this approach of the book ultimately leads to simplification, generalization, restriction, inflexibility, reductionism, and distortion of the chronological and temporal line of theories. With its new approach and through the classifications it presents, the aforementioned book needs to be put through its paces and will eventually, if its approach is accepted, become a comprehensive and consensus-based "textbook" for students. This is because the author's perception of the theories and their classification into only one of the three approaches mentioned, as shown throughout the article, causes many conflicts and contradictions.

5-Conclusion

It is suggested that the respected author, in the next editions, pay attention to points such as whether or not the book is a textbook, more flexibility in demarcating and delimiting theories, avoiding restrictions on categories, comprehensiveness and avoiding simplification.

References:

Eagleton, Terry (2013), Introduction to Literary Theory, translated by Abbas Mokhbar, 6th edition, Tehran: Nash-e-Karzan.

Bertens, Hans (1391), Basics of Literary Theory, translated by Mohammad Reza Abolqasmi, 3rd edition, Tehran: Mahi.

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Terdiman, Richard, 1989, Discourse/Counter-Discourse, The Theory and Practice of Symbolic Resistance in Nineteenth-Century France, Cornell University Press.

Keywords

Subjects

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Literary Criticism
Volume 15, Issue 60
Summer 2022
Pages 43-92