Literary criticism's prime inadequacy is its insularity, its tunnel-vision. It's preposterous idea that all of human experience can be contained within the literary imagination. As though music, dance, and architecture didn't have anything to contribute. That's the kind of literary smugness that turns off just about everyone who isn't in total agreement with the premise of literary superiority.
Of course, other artistic criticism, when it's equally tunnel-visioned, isn't any better. Far better to have critics who look to the larger world, and the other arts. (Like Terry Teachout, who continues to set critical standards that few can match.)
Literary criticism's prime inadequacy is its insularity, its tunnel-vision. It's preposterous idea that all of human experience can be contained within the literary imagination. As though music, dance, and architecture didn't have anything to contribute. That's the kind of literary smugness that turns off just about everyone who isn't in total agreement with the premise of literary superiority.
ReplyDeleteOf course, other artistic criticism, when it's equally tunnel-visioned, isn't any better. Far better to have critics who look to the larger world, and the other arts. (Like Terry Teachout, who continues to set critical standards that few can match.)