The scholars and the critics: Shakespeare studies and theory in the 2010s

Abstract

Over the past decade, Theory has given way to the archive. This article aims to gain a clearer view of the current state of critical practice by surveying a range of recent studies of Shakespeare and asking fundamental questions about their methodology and underlying assumptions. It also examines how the once commonplace distinction between scholars and critics became blurred in the years following new historicism and cultural materialism. Finally, it turns to consider the possible consequences of a discipline dominated by historical scholarship. © 2013 © 2013 Neema Parvini