Glyphs and the Afterlives of Theory.

The article examines the relationship between criticism and truth through the lens of Roland Barthes' *Criticism and Truth* and Jonathan Kramnick's *Criticism and Truth: On Method in Literary Studies*, focusing on the role of language and literature in shaping understanding. It highlights the work of Chilean poet Raúl Zurita, particularly his geoglyph "ni pena ni miedo" ("neither sorrow nor fear") inscribed in the Atacama Desert, as a significant example of how literature can function as theory. The author argues that Zurita's glyph transcends traditional interpretations by engaging with themes of absence, negation, and the relationship between language and materiality, ultimately suggesting that literature can theorize beyond its immediate context. The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering both historical and philosophical dimensions in literary criticism. [Extracted from the article]