The uneasiness of literary studies

Almeria, LB (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Literary studies are in a deep crisis. It is the uneasiness of literary studies. That crisis is the same one that affects the entire field of the humanities. Its origin goes back to its birth. Historical Humanities were born in the 19th century to contribute to the construction of national states. At the present time, Humanities must be instruments to build the unification of humanity. In the context of literary studies, this means overcoming the principles that prevent further research. Such principles have split the methodology of literary studies into two opposing orientations : formalism or rhetoric and culturalism (also called sociologism). Today both methods are exhausted and prevent progress and innovation. These principles are dogmas : the ideological dogma, the dogma that literature pursues beauty, and the dogma of the Zeitgeist or spirit of time. Since Schiller there is an alternative to this scenario. Schiller warned that beauty is a sensitive appreciation. But literature requires an intelligent appreciation. From Schiller, there is an alternative to this overview based on the idea of aesthetic form - the inner form - and on a theory of imagination inspired by the philosophy of history. For some decades, the Big History project is pointing a new framework to overcome these antinomies, by providing a scenario in which it is possible to understand the history of aesthetic forms.

Idioma: Italiano

DOI: 10.19272/202109801007

Año: 2021

Publicado en: Letteratura e Letterature 15, 15 (2021), 99-112
ISSN: 1973-2600

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.101 - Literature and Literary Theory (Q3) - Linguistics and Language (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PrePrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Teor.Liter.y Liter.Compa. (Dpto. Lingüíst.y Liter.Hispán.)