Affect and Literature

This volume examines the significance of affect in literary studies, tracing its evolution through various philosophical and theoretical frameworks, while exploring contemporary issues related to media, capitalism, and social crises.

Affect and Literature delves into the intricate relationship between emotional experience and literary expression. This volume offers a comprehensive examination of affect theory, highlighting its significance in the realm of literary studies. It serves as a valuable resource for both students and scholars across disciplines such as philosophy, media, and communication studies, emphasizing how the concept of affect has evolved over time.

The first section, titled Origins, discusses the foundational philosophies and theories that have shaped the understanding of affect in literature. It spans various historical periods, drawing on ancient Greek and Roman thought, eighteenth-century aesthetics, and modern critical frameworks like Marxism, psychoanalysis, queer theory, and postcolonial theory. This exploration provides a rich context for understanding how affect has been conceptualized and its relevance to literary analysis.

In the subsequent section, Developments, the book builds on the insights from the first part by offering detailed readings of specific texts, illustrating how these theories manifest in literary works. The final section, Applications, shifts focus to contemporary issues, addressing how affect intersects with media, capitalism, and broader societal challenges, including ecological crises and conflicts. Through these discussions, Affect and Literature not only consolidates existing knowledge but also opens up new avenues for future inquiry, inviting readers to reconsider the role of affect in literature and its impact on our understanding of human experience.