On Theory Criticism

Abstract: Theory criticism takes literary theory (in its general sense) as its narrative and descriptive object. According to some critics, instead of establishing a commending height, literary theory in the past century disseminates nihilism. Theory often parallel to criticism, however, as Paul Fry indicates, the difference between them is that what criticism takes for granted is exactly that which literary theory missed. As a central figure among controversy over the “theory”, Culler keeps his theoretical enthusiasmall along since he invents the nickname in On Deconstruction till his reiteration of theory in his The Literary in Theory. His critique of Knapp is but a brief episode. Theory never dies. In the wake of its treacherous journey, we face the right moment to vision a new discipline called “theory criticism”.