conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know a description for a book titled Introducing Critical Theory about Deconstructionists, Introducing, Critical with the genre: New, Used & Rental Textbooks, Humanities?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The last few decades have seen a veritable explosion in the production of critical theory. Deconstructionists, poststructuralists, postmodernists, second-wave feminists, new historicists, cultural materialists, postcolonialists, black critics and queer theorists, among a host of others, all vie for our attention. It puts into context recent developments by situating them within the longer-term tradition of critical analysis - back to the rise of Marxism. Special attention is paid to recurrent themes and concerns that have preoccupied a century of critical theoretical activity.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Introducing, Critical, Theory, Introducing.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The last few decades have seen a veritable explosion in the production of critical theory. Deconstructionists, poststructuralists, postmodernists, second-wave feminists, new historicists, cultural materialists, postcolonialists, black critics and queer theorists, among a host of others, all vie for our attention. Introducing Critical Theory provides a route through this jungle. It puts into context recent developments by situating them within the longer-term tradition of critical analysis - back to the rise of Marxism. Special attention is paid to recurrent themes and concerns that have preoccupied a century of critical theoretical activity.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the first four paragraphs for this book?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Introducing Critical Theory
  The "hidden discourse" of female painting and composition is being opened up by feminist art historians and musicologists.
  So-called "second wave" feminism from the 1960s and 70s onwards has adopted a significantly more militant stance towards patriarchy than the "first wave" did. Such militancy has often involved heavy criticism of Marxism, held to be in league with patriarchy, if only unwittingly. The American feminist **Heidi Hartmann** (b. 1945) famously spoke of "the unhappy marriage between Marxism and feminism".
  Although Hartmann was still hoping that an accommodation could be reached, somehow or other, Marxism having its positive points, several of her contemporaries act as if the divorce has already taken place – and not before time!
  Marxist feminists themselves have become increasingly critical of Marxism in the last few decades, and, while acknowledging the theory's scope and power, have come to regard it as a bastion of patriarchal attitudes holding back the cause of women.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know four more paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: I accuse difference feminism of having allowed itself to sink into an essentialist cult of Woman, whereas I want it to speak for both sexes.
  We can now even speak of **postfeminism**. It stands in relation to feminism much in the way that post-Marxism does to Marxism. The attack on womanism might be seen as an instance of this phenomenon in action...
  We must pass on from woman as "victim" of patriarchy, male sexuality, etc., towards a more positive image of woman seen to have the capability to choose from a range of lifestyles.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Postfeminism, cultivated.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: I accuse difference feminism of having allowed itself to sink into an essentialist cult of Woman, whereas I want it to speak for both sexes. 
  We can now even speak of **postfeminism**. It stands in relation to feminism much in the way that post-Marxism does to Marxism. The attack on womanism might be seen as an instance of this phenomenon in action. 
  Postfeminism represents a move away from the culture of victimhood that has so often been cultivated by second-wave feminism... 
  We must pass on from woman as "victim" of patriarchy, male sexuality, etc. , towards a more positive image of woman seen to have the capability to choose from a range of lifestyles.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the last five paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Sarup, Madan, **An Introductory Guide to Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism** (Hemel Hempstead: Harvester, 1988). Clear exposition of the major concerns of these movements, with particular reference to the thought of Lacan, Derrida and Foucault.
  Selden, Raman, and Widdowson, Peter, **A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory** (Harvester: Hemel Hempstead, 1993 (revised edition)). Highly regarded general introduction, much used in literature degrees.
  Sim, Stuart, ed., **The Icon Critical Dictionary of Postmodern Thought** (Cambridge: Icon Books, 1998; shortly to be republished by Routledge). Comprehensive study of the impact of postmodernism on the major discourses of Western culture, with an extensive glossary of the major concepts and figures involved in postmodernism's development.
  Sim, Stuart, **Post-Marxism: An Intellectual History** (London: Routledge, 2000). Wide-ranging account of the development of dissenting trends within Marxism, from the movement's early stages through to the emergence of post-Marxism.
  Sim, Stuart, 'Structuralism and Post-structuralism' and 'Marxism and Aesthetics', in Oswald Hanfling, ed., **Philosophical Aesthetics: An Introduction** (Oxford: Blackwell, 1992), pp. 405–39 and 441–71. Two historically-based essays outlining the major concepts and concerns in structuralist, poststructuralist and Marxist critical theory.