Theory on Theory.

This article surveys recent scholarship on literary criticism and critical theory, focusing on the nature of reading, knowledge production in the humanities, and contemporary theoretical debates. It examines three key works that explore close reading as a technical practice, disciplinary knowledge as socially constituted expertise, and the creative, affective dimensions of criticism. The article then reviews critical engagements with major theorists and theoretical approaches, including critiques of autotheory, Fredric Jameson’s Marxist theory lectures, Rei Terada’s analysis of Afropessimism and political identity, and Peter E. Gordon’s reinterpretation of Theodor Adorno’s philosophy emphasizing dialectical negativity and human flourishing. Throughout, the discussion highlights tensions between technique, interpretation, social consensus, and the stakes of scholarly argument within the humanities.