The Literary in Theory

Has"theory"neglectedliterature?Oftenliteraryandculturaltheory,whichgoesbythenickname"Theory,"hasseemedtobethetheoryofeverythingexceptliterature:theoryoflanguage,ofsexuality,ofhistory,ofthebody,ofthepsyche,ofmeaning(ormeaninglessness),ofpolitics,butnottheoryofliterature.Inthistimelyandwide-rangingbook,JonathanCuller,whoselucidanalysesofstructuralism,semiotics,anddeconstructionhavebeenprizedbygenerationsofreaders,explorestheplaceoftheliteraryintheory.Iftheoryhassometimesneglectedliterature,theliteraryhas,Cullerargues,retainedacrucialifmisunderstoodrole.Culler'saccountofthefortunesoftheliteraryintheory,oftheresistancetotheory,andofkeytheoreticalconcepts--text,sign,interpretation,performative,andomniscience--providesvaluableinsightintotoday'stheoreticaldebates;andhisanalysisofvariousdisciplinarypracticesexploresthepossibilitiesoftheoryforthepresentandthefuture.