Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2024

Issues concerning the Historicization of Contemporary Literary Criticism

(Abstract)

Ye Liwen

With the popular historicization of contemporary literary criticism, some critics blindly pursue the scientific and empirical nature of criticism. Their worship of historical materials conceals literary works which are the target of criticism and their preference for plain learning drives out personal emotion. Therefore, it has become urgent to address the following issues in the historical turn of contemporary literary criticism: integrate the criticism of new and old historicism with the criticism of textual historicism; limit historical materials and interpretation to build a work-centered approach; advance the heart-history mutual verification with the power of emotion in the process of showcasing critics’ subjective consciousness.