Certain Quote by Paul de Man
“The critical method which denies literary modernity would appear -- and even, in certain respects, would be -- the most modern of critical movements.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Critical Method,” Critical Inquiry, 1975
Denial of modernity in literature paradoxically becomes the most contemporary critical stance.
In simple terms: Rejecting modernity can be a modern approach.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about literary periods.
Themes
modernity
criticism
paradox
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic seminars
- critical essays
- literary conferences
Key Concepts
deconstruction
literary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “modern” truly mean in criticism?
- Is denying modernity a useful strategy?
A Different Perspective
Such self‑referential critiques can become overly abstract.
