A Literary Organ

There are academics who believe that teaching literature in the proper way can make the world a better place! I don't even want to get involved in the silliness of this debate, but if you want to see a very impassioned discussion of this issue, check out The Valve's discussion of "theoretically oriented approaches" versus "politically oriented approaches" to literature and you'll see the nature of the dispute.

The fact that "literary criticism ought to further the cause of social justice" is justly criticized, but the debate degenerates into impassioned, and not very witty accusations and counter accusations - it must be said by mostly men.

It took me back ten years ago to the Derrida discussion list when I was so lonely in Minneapolis, that I spent my days on a 14.4 bps modem dial up connection on the internets!