Bruce Robbins is an author whose works delve into the intricate connections between literature, ethics, and society. His writing often explores themes of internationalism, the position of intellectuals, and the literary history of the welfare state. Robbins seeks to understand how literature reflects and shapes our understanding of the world and its social structures. His work challenges readers to consider the role of literature in discussions of global concerns and social justice.
Challenging conventional views of upward mobility narratives, Robbins reveals a hidden tradition that emphasizes erotic social interdependence rather than individual self-making. By examining literary works, he uncovers how these stories reflect a collective interest, reshaping our understanding of ambition and community. This exploration invites readers to reconsider the dynamics of social ascent and the interconnectedness of human relationships within the literary canon.
Reckoning with one's role in perpetuating systematic inequality, Bruce Robbins
examines the implications of a humanitarianism in which the prosperous are the
both the cause and the beneficiaries of the abhorrent conditions they seek to
remedy.
An accessible introduction to cultural theory and an original polemic about the purpose of criticism What is criticism for? Over the past few decades, violent disagreements over that question in the academy have burst into the news media. These conflicts have renewed the Culture Wars over the legacy of the 1960s, becoming entangled in national politics and leading to a new set of questions. Does a concern with race, gender, and sexuality, with unacknowledged power and privilege, with identity, give present critics the right to criticize the great works of the past? If we have learned to see those works in terms of historical differences rather than universal truths, how is it that they speak to us at all? In the study of the world's cultures, there is more than one way to avoid being Eurocentric; which way should we choose? Re-examining key thinkers since 1970, including Walter Benjamin, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, Edward Said, Hortense Spillers, Fredric Jameson, and Stuart Hall, Criticism and Politics offers both a non-specialist introduction to recent cultural theory and a strong new interpretation of how this theory applies to the everyday issue of what cultural critics do and how they should feel about what they do.
Eminent contributors examine the current and future landscape of cosmopolitanism and its interplay with nationalism. Nationalism and the nation-state are facing challenges from ethnic strife, religious fundamentalism, global capitalism, and significant population movements across cultures and cyberspace. In response, a revitalized cosmopolitanism has emerged as a compelling political alternative. This collection features a distinguished group of scholars and political theorists who provide a thorough analysis of this project, its inclusive claims, and its complex relationship with nationalism. While traditional cosmopolitanism has been critiqued for its perceived detachment from the obligations of nation-bound lives, the essays reveal that contemporary cosmopolitanism is rooted in specific cultural, historical, and political contexts. The contributors investigate the possibility of a feasible cosmopolitanism that may not only coexist with but potentially reshape nationalism, which warrants reexamination rather than dismissal. This intellectually stimulating and interdisciplinary volume offers a range of critical perspectives, evaluating both the aspirational goals and the current realities of the evolving cosmopolitical movement.
Exploring the concept of "new cosmopolitanism," the author reflects on two decades of engagement with cultural interactions and multiple identities. In the context of ongoing U.S. warfare, Robbins examines the responsibilities of American intellectuals, arguing that the nation's waning power may lead to scapegoating other countries. His insights challenge readers to reconsider their roles in a world marked by conflict and the complexities of belonging.
