"Lateral Modernity"

Any theoretical discussion is incomplete without some consideration of "Lateral Modernity", which is best defined through its use in responding to a range of important critical topics, thus:

Lateral Modernist Considerations

Practical Criticism

Lateral Modernity says: “Disregarding a text’s outside context is impractical, while inner-contexts, so-styled, are properly material for the arena of Psychoanalytic Criticism (see below).”

Cultural Studies

Lateral Modernity says: “The context of socio-cultural environment is incomplete without a full consideration of the text’s historical context(s).”

Formalism

Lateral Modernity says: “Language and technical skill are ‘adequate' measures of artistic merit, though aesthetic considerations need to be empowered though lateral movements to alternative aesthetic criteria. Kant’s aesthetic notions reflecting universalizability and the 'categorical imperative', as standards for arriving at critical measure, should be properly mitigated by taste, reader-response, and a meta-study of general and specific critical receptions.”

Reader-response

Lateral Modernity says: “Any reader’s response to (reaction and interpretation of) a text is a valuable source for critical study; however, the construction of near- or almost-readers approximating any reader’s response also serve to scale the importance and context of any such response.  In these ways, rubrics of understanding can augment the reader-response agenda so as to yield important insights regarding understanding, which is after all a key outcome in the assessment of any text—including (indeed underscoring) both primary and secondary textual materials.”

The New Criticism

Lateral Modernity says: “While formal and structural elements serve to build a superstructure for analysis, emotional and moral (or ethical) elements remain the key fields where aesthetic assessments are ultimately concluded.”

Psychoanalytic Criticism

Lateral Modernity says: “The assessments of neuroses and other abnormal signifiers amongst characters, authors and contextualizing historical actors in synchronic and diachronic contexts are of paramount importance; yet comparative psychological (and often psychiatric) analyses of critical voices and texts also are necessary to preserve the legitimacy (or, better, the appearance of the legitimacy) of any comprehensive Psychoanalytic Criticism.”

Marxist Theory

Lateral Modernity says: “Class relations, sociological ideals, class struggle, alienation, political will, and reformist ideals require a litmus test—perhaps in the form of a classroom 'struggle session' in order to tease out possible biases on the part of students, professors, and assessment personal who are invited into the classroom (or who are asked to produce studies for peer-review journals and/or that respond to administration’s mission to insure the integrity and uninterrupted flow of institutional revenue streams).

Post-modernism

Lateral Modernity says: “Unified narratives can be pluralistic through the acknowledgement that, as Nietzsche says, ‘There are no facts, only interpretations”, which requires also knowledge of the French language, French art, and French humor, as is demonstrated HERE. Considerations of Delacroix in the context of sensationalist aesthetics and vulgar tastes, as well as a study of pantomime artists with  painted faces, striped shirts, suspenders and black berets also augment an appreciation for Postmodernism as a proletarian process (example: street art) as well as the highly important critical performances favored by committed students in the classroom, who are then motivated to attend emotionally moving (and thus meaningful) struggle sessions on raised platforms out-of-doors.”

Post-structuralism  

Lateral Modernity says: “Signs and symbols in texts (or any art) can be moved laterally so as to expose latent “universal truths” that obscure the on-going—indeed vitally interminable—activity of critical assessment (anyway, so far as it is conducted in the middlebrow magisterium that is after all the key concern of the post-structuralist, at least as of this writing).”

Deconstruction

Lateral Modernity says: “In picking apart a text’s ideas or arguments, one can crucially neglect the function of language in the genesis of ‘concepts’ that after all render meaning at least possible insofar as the role that ‘concepts’ must and do play in identifying, securing and maintaining a place in the institutional revenue stream.

Postcolonial Theory

Lateral Modernity says: “Western thought no longer dominates the discussion in literature and art, while colonialism remains a construction whose usefulness has transformed the discussion to the political arena, where—beyond shrewd and adroit messaging, virtue signaling and departmental ingratiation—the subject is now meaningless in theoretical terms; while, indeed, disagreement with this formulation remains a racist carry-over from the outrageous “judgmental” character of Western discourse.”

Feminist Criticism

Lateral Modernity says: “The most effective exposition of progressive feminist activity is not achieved through the rote recitation of feminist theories, but rather through the celebration of notable feminist scholars who have produced these self-same theories.  Thus, rather than repeating theoretical concepts, critics are encouraged to forcefully pronounce important names; for example, Virginia Woolf, Elaine Showalter, Hélène Cixous, and so on.”

Queer Theory

Lateral Modernity says: “The interrogation of gender roles through identifying the lens of sexual orientation and gender identity is facilitated though a conversation that is inoffensive—this is primary.  Repeating important names (see Feminist Criticism above), underscoring one’s commitment to sexual (and gender) liberation and the exercise thereof… also are important descriptive and expository factors.”

Critical Race Theory

Lateral Modernity says: “While studies in literature and the arts remain guiding critical foci, the revenue streams made possible through possessing a law degree over and above a degree in Critical Race Theory should not be overlooked.”

Critical Disability Theory

Lateral Modernity says: “Racist and ableist views attend the examination of ableist social structures, though such analyses remain ineffectual without the support of adjacent and attending critical theories, which are too numerous to list here, though the above expositions of Lateral Modernist Considerations, properly considered, serve as nascent foci for exercising good work, progressive action and effective reform.”

Herbert Marcuse leading collective action