What is Formalism? | A Comprehensive Guide to Literary Criticism

Summary

In this video, Kieran delves into the intricacies of formalism, a literary criticism approach that emphasizes the text's intrinsic qualities over external influences. Originating in the early 20th century, formalism, closely linked to new criticism, advocates for close reading and the autonomy of the text. Key principles include the text's self-contained unity and defamiliarization, challenging readers' perceptions. The method's focus on narrative structure and literary devices significantly impacted literary criticism, though its limitations in context consideration and subjectivity are acknowledged.

Takeaways

• 📚 Formalism is a literary criticism style that focuses on the intrinsic qualities of a text, rather than external influences.
• 🌐 It emerged in the early 20th century, influenced by Russian formalism and developed by the New Critics in America.
• 🔍 The three main principles of formalism are autonomy, unity, and defamiliarization.
• 🧐 Autonomy suggests that a text should be studied as a self-contained entity, independent of external factors.
• 🔄 Unity emphasizes that every aspect of a work should contribute to a harmonious whole, creating a unified artistic expression.
• 👀 Defamiliarization is the idea of challenging readers' preconceived notions through the text, offering new perspectives.
• 🔎 Close reading is a key method used by formalists to analyze the structure, organization, and literary devices within a text.
• 🎨 Formalism is associated with modernism, sharing a focus on innovation and artistic expression.
• 🤔 Formalism has limitations, including its refusal to consider historical, societal, and political contexts that influence works.
• 👨‍🏫 Major figures in formalism include John Crow Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, T.S. Eliot, and Russian formalists like Victor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson.
• 📉 Formalism's subjectivity can lead to very niche and specific criticisms, which may not always be universally applicable.

Q & A

What is formalism in literary criticism?

Formalism is a style of literary criticism that focuses on the intrinsic qualities of a text, rather than external influences. It emerged in the early 20th century and is associated with new criticism in America and Russian formalism.

What are the three main principles of formalism?

The three main principles of formalism are autonomy, unity, and defamiliarization. Autonomy suggests that the text should be studied as a self-contained entity, unity emphasizes the harmonious functioning of all parts of a work, and defamiliarization encourages readers to experience the familiar in an unfamiliar way.

Who were some key figures in the development of Russian formalism?

Key figures in the development of Russian formalism include Victor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson.

How did the new critics in America adapt Russian formalist ideas?

The new critics in America, including John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and T.S. Eliot, adapted Russian formalist ideas by focusing on the intrinsic qualities of a text and the close reading of literary works.

What is meant by 'close reading' in the context of formalism?

Close reading in the context of formalism refers to the detailed examination of a text's form, structure, and poetic qualities, with the aim of understanding the work's meaning and artistic expression without reference to external contexts.

How does formalism relate to the concept of 'death of the author'?

Formalism's focus on the text itself, rather than the author's intent or external influences, aligns with the 'death of the author' concept, which suggests that the meaning of a text is independent of the author's personal experiences or intentions.

What is the significance of 'organic unity' in formalist analysis?

Organic unity in formalist analysis refers to the idea that every aspect of a work should contribute to a unified artistic expression, with all parts working together harmoniously to convey the work's overall idea.

What are some limitations of formalism as a critical approach?

Limitations of formalism include its refusal to consider historical, societal, and political contexts that often influence works, its highly subjective nature in evaluating literary techniques, and the potential for overly narrow and niche criticism.

How does formalism's focus on intrinsic qualities differ from other forms of literary criticism?

Formalism's focus on intrinsic qualities differs from other forms of literary criticism by disregarding external factors such as the author's biography, historical context, or socio-political influences, instead concentrating solely on the text's form and content.

What role do literary devices play in formalist analysis?

In formalist analysis, literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, and symbolism play a crucial role, as the mastery of these techniques by the author is seen as elevating the work and contributing to its intrinsic artistic value.

How has formalism influenced the field of literary criticism over time?

Formalism has had a profound effect on literary criticism, revolutionizing the way texts are analyzed and interpreted. Its legacy continues to be influential, shaping the discourse and methodologies used in literary studies even today.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Formalism in Literary Criticism

The script begins with an introduction to formalism, a style of literary criticism that focuses on the intrinsic qualities of a text, rather than external factors. It mentions that formalism emerged in the early 20th century and is closely associated with new criticism. The three main principles of formalism are autonomy, unity, and defamiliarization. Autonomy suggests that the text should be studied as a self-contained entity, unity emphasizes that every aspect of a work should contribute to a harmonious whole, and defamiliarization encourages readers to experience the familiar in an unfamiliar way. The script also highlights the role of close reading in formalism and discusses the influence of Russian formalism on the development of new criticism in America, mentioning key figures like Victor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson, as well as American critics such as John Crow Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and T.S. Eliot.

05:01

🔍 Critique and Limitations of Formalism

The second paragraph delves into the methods used by formalists to analyze literary works, such as close examination of the text's structure, narrative techniques, and literary devices like metaphor and symbolism. It acknowledges the significant impact of formalism on literary criticism and its enduring legacy. However, it also points out the limitations of formalism, including its refusal to consider historical, societal, and political contexts that influence a work's creation. The critique suggests that formalism's focus on the text alone can be naive and that its highly subjective nature can lead to very specific and niche criticisms. The speaker invites further discussion on formalism and encourages questions from the audience.

Keywords

💡Formalism

Formalism is a style of literary criticism that focuses on the text itself, rather than external factors such as the author's intent or historical context. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the principles and methods of formalist analysis. The script mentions that formalism emerged in the early 20th century and is associated with new criticism in America and Russian formalism, emphasizing the intrinsic qualities of a text.

💡New Criticism

New Criticism is a school of thought in literary theory that aligns closely with formalism. It is defined by its focus on the text as an autonomous entity and is a key part of the video's historical context. The script identifies new critics such as John Crow Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and T.S. Eliot as major figures who adapted and expanded Russian formalist ideas within an American context.

💡Autonomy

In the context of formalism, autonomy refers to the concept that a text should be studied as a self-contained entity, independent of external influences or authorial intent. The video explains this principle by stating that formalists argue all meaning can be derived from the text itself, highlighting the importance of autonomy in the formalist approach to literary criticism.

💡Unity

Unity in formalism suggests that every aspect of a work contributes to a harmonious whole, with each part functioning together to express a unified artistic idea. The script discusses this principle by emphasizing the formalist belief that components like plot, character, setting, and style should work in concert to create a cohesive work of art.

💡Defamiliarization

Defamiliarization is a concept where readers are encouraged to experience the familiar in an unfamiliar way, challenging their preconceived notions. The video describes how formalists use this principle to promote a fresh perspective on literary works, aiming to provide new insights and interpretations beyond the reader's initial understanding.

💡Close Reading

Close reading is a method central to formalism, where critics examine a text meticulously to uncover its meaning and appreciate its artistry. The video script illustrates this by discussing how formalists focus on the form, structure, and poetic qualities of a text, paying close attention to narrative techniques and literary devices.

💡Intrinsic Qualities

Intrinsic qualities refer to the inherent characteristics of a text that formalists believe can be used to derive its meaning. The video emphasizes that formalists are interested in these qualities rather than external factors, such as the historical or social context in which the work was created.

💡Literary Devices

Literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, and symbolism are techniques used by authors to convey meaning and enhance the artistic quality of a text. The video explains that formalists analyze these devices to understand how they contribute to the text's overall effect and the reader's emotional response.

💡Point of View

Point of view is a narrative technique that formalists scrutinize to understand how a story is told and how it influences the reader's perception. The script mentions point of view as one of the narrative techniques that formalists closely examine to uncover the construction and delivery of a narrative.

💡Modernism

Modernism is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged around the same time as formalism, and the video notes a crossover between the two in terms of innovation and artistic expression. While not the main focus, modernism is mentioned to provide context for the development of formalist ideas and their impact on literary criticism.

💡Subjectivity

Subjectivity in formalism refers to the personal interpretation and evaluation of a text's qualities, which can vary between critics. The video points out the limitations of formalism by highlighting its subjective nature, questioning how one can objectively determine an author's mastery of literary devices.

Highlights

Formalism is a style of literary criticism that many people think of when encountering the term 'literary criticism'.

Formalism emerged in the early 20th century and is somewhat synonymous with New Criticism, a revolutionary school of thought in America.

Three main principles of formalism are autonomy, unity, and defamiliarization.

Formalists conduct close reading and are interested in the intrinsic qualities of a work, rather than external factors.

Formalism was developed by the New Critics in America, influenced by Russian formalism with key figures like Victor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson.

Major players in New Criticism include John Crow Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and T.S. Eliot, who adapted and expanded Russian formalist ideas.

Formalists seek a more objective way to study a book by focusing on the intrinsic qualities of a text.

The meaning of a text, according to formalists, can be derived solely from the text itself, from its literary elements and artistic expression.

The principle of autonomy states that the text should be studied as a self-contained entity, independent from authorial intent and external influences.

Organic unity is the idea that every aspect of a work should contribute to a harmonious whole, creating a unified artistic expression.

Defamiliarization in formalism means challenging readers' preconceived notions by experiencing the familiar in an unfamiliar way.

Formalism emerged around the same time as modernism, leading to crossover in innovation and artistic expression.

Formalists closely examine the structure and organization of a text, paying attention to narrative techniques like point of view, time manipulation, and plot development.

Analysis of literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, and symbolism is a key method used by formalists to understand the mastery of these techniques in a work.

Formalism has had a profound effect on literary criticism and its legacy remains strong over a hundred years after its origin.

Formalism has limitations, such as a refusal to consider historical, societal, and political contexts that often influence works.

The subjectivity of formalism can lead to criticism that is very picky and niche.

Transcripts

good evening campers it's me Kieran

today we are going to talk about

formulism this style of literary

criticism I would argue is the one that

most people think of when they are

encountered with the word literary

criticism a lot of people's Stripes

struggles and resentment towards the

drug criticism is from formalism before

we get into it verbalism emerged in the

early 20th century formalism is somewhat

synonymous with new criticism which was

a revolutionary school of thought in

America I would say their three main

principles when it comes to formalism

that of autonomy unity and

defamiliarization forbelists conduct

close reading and therefore interested

in the intrinsic machinations of a work

rather than worrying about anything

external and then we've got that summary

out of the way let's talk about

formalism in a bit more depth formalism

as a critical theory emerged in the

early 20th century and that was

developed by the new critics in America

from Russian formulism with key figures

such as Victor shaklovsky and Roman

yakuzan playing significant roles within

the development of Russian formalism but

as we discussed in our before Theory

video literary criticism continually

expands on itself before the work of the

Russian literary scholarship would find

its way in America where the new critics

got their hands on it some of the major

players who within new criticism are

John Crow Ransom cleeth Brooks and T.S

Eliot who all adapted and expanded on

the Russian formalist ideas the

formalists the Russians and the

Americans alike wish to find a more

objective way to study a book and

therefore focused on the intrinsic

qualities of a text rather than any

external influences close reading plays

a huge part in this as we start looking

at the form of the text the structure of

the text the lyrical and poetic

qualities of a work these qualities

Super C feed any of the political

economic or social contexts that a book

was written in forbelists believe that

the meaning of the text can be derived

from the text itself solely garnered

from the literary elements and the

artistic expression that is used within

the work some of you might be joining

the Dots here and thinking well is this

weird death of the author comes into

because we consider the text and not the

author and you would be correct but

let's all think about close reading or

death of the author we'll cover those in

different videos instead let's explore

three key principles that I feel

summarize formalism succinctly autonomy

of the text fullists argue that the text

should be studied as a self-contained

entity that all meaning can be derived

from the text itself the text should be

independent from authorial intent and

external influences the second principle

is the idea of organic Unity formalists

assert that every aspect of a work

should move towards the grander idea of

a work they argue that in analyzing

specific parts or certain aspects of a

work such as the plot the character

setted style that all of it should

function together to give a harmonious

idea of the work as a whole all of this

to create a unified artistic expression

the third principle revolves around

defamiliarization formless argued the

readers should read works that challenge

their preconceived notions but in the

context of forbialism that doesn't mean

you just read something that you don't

like just a pluck out an example say if

you're atheist it doesn't mean that you

should go out reading theist works

that's not what it means instead they

want readers to experience the familiar

in an unfamiliar way knowing that

formalism is to emerge around the same

time as modernism we see a lot of

crossover in Innovation and artistic

expression now that we've explored these

three principles let's talk about the

various methods the formalists use to

analyze their literary Works formalists

closely examined the structured

organization of a text they pay great

attention to narrative techniques such

as point of view time manipulation and

plot development through scrutinizing

how a narrative is constructive and

therefore delivered to a reader the

formless sought to understand how

readers would obtain different emotional

responses and different interpretations

of a work an additional method that the

formalists used was in the analysis of

literary devices mid-ray devices covers

things such as metaphor imagery

symbolism and author's Mastery of these

techniques was ultimately in turn

Elevate their work orbitalism had a

profound effect that really did

revolutionize literary criticism and I

would argue that its Legacy a hundred

years on from when it was originated is

still as strong today as it was then

it's important for me to stress that

formalism does have its limitations a

refusal to consider almost the negation

of historical societal and political

context that often influence works or

indeed was a reaction to the creation of

a work is somewhat of a naive

perspective to take furthermore

formalism is highly subjective how does

one critic deem if a author has a

skillful Mastery of metaphor over

another person moreover at a dire

consequence of formalism is that you can

get criticism that is very pinnickity

and moves very Niche but that's all for

now this has been my comprehensive guide

to formalism and if you're interested in

formalism or have any other questions

please let me know down below