Reviews for Literature, Theory, and Common Sense:

The average rating for Literature, Theory, and Common Sense: based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-07-11 00:00:00 John King A really great overview of literary theory from Plato to the 1970s. The unifying thesis is that theory sets itself in opposition to common sense and thus is driven to logical paradoxes. Compagnon's stated goal is to expose the assumptions of both theory and common sense, and usually attempts to find a synthesis that will satisfy both (or neither) parties. The shadow of Roland Barthes hangs heavy over this book. In truth, the real joy here is his exploration of the seven topics he sets out for himself, which can be simply listed as literature, author, world, reader, style, history, and value. In each case, Compagnon provides a historical narrative, describes the central questions, and demonstrates how one might re-think the relevant topic. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to seriously engage with literary theory but hopes to avoid the mind-numbing prose of the great post-structuralists.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-07-09 00:00:00 Stephen Boszko "Documents" was the great writer and the thinker of the Underworld Georges Bataille's great journal that lasted for a year or so. Put together in the late 20's, the journal was probably the first time that a group of artists thought about Africian Tribal art or old civilizations and what it meant to Contemporary Art and practices. With Bataille you got the feeling that he had sort of X-Ray eyes at looking at contemporary culture and had an understanding what lurks underneath that skin. Strongly erotic impulses are measured along with the 'waste' of previous cultures and civilizations. A beautifully (if one can call it that) document of a time when artists explored their regions and matched it up with something from the past.