Toril Moi explore la relation complexe entre la littérature et la philosophie, particulièrement à travers les prismes de l'esthétique et de la théorie féministe. Elle étudie comment lire la littérature en dialogue avec la philosophie et vice versa, sans réduire l'une à l'autre. L'œuvre de Moi met en lumière les voix distinctives et les nuances stylistiques des écrivaines et des textes littéraires. Son approche offre un engagement rigoureux et sensible aux dimensions formelles et thématiques de ses sujets.
For the second edition of her landmark study of Simone de Beauvoir, Toril Moi provides a major new introduction discussing current developments in Beauvoir studies as well as the recent publication of papers and letters by Beauvoir, including her letters to her lovers Jacques-Laurent Bost and Nelson Agren, and her student diaries from 1926-7.
Challenging contemporary feminist thought, Toril Moi explores the essence of womanhood and feminism in today's context, drawing inspiration from Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex." The book presents fresh theoretical insights on Freud and Bourdieu, alongside analyses of desire and knowledge in literature. Emphasizing a feminism rooted in freedom, Moi advocates for a rejection of rigid definitions of femininity, offering a compelling and original perspective that enriches feminist theory.
This anthology introduces the English-speaking reader to some of the major elements of recent French feminist thought. While including contributions from well-known theorists such as Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva, the book aims particularly to demonstrate the variety of views held by French women on the central issues of feminist politics, creativity, writing and sexual difference by providing a cross-section of texts from the women's movement, recent feminist research and intellectual debate in France. The book includes selections from the works of Simone de Beauvoir, Annie de Pisan, Anne Tristan, Christine Delphy, Arlette Farge, Elisabeth Badinter, Michele Le Doeuff, Sarah Kofman and Michele Montrelay. French Feminist Thought also presents the English-speaking reader with the new feminist approaches to male-dominated disciplines such as history, philosophy and psychoanalysis.
'Moi's detailed and critical discussion of the two main strands in feminist criticism Anglo-American and French] provides us with a basis for advancing the political and theoretical orientation of feminst theory.' - Mahnaz Koosha Mohseni
This is a major critical study of Henrik Ibsen by a leading literary theorist. Toril Moi offers a radical reappraisal of Ibsen's place in the birth of modernism and the origins of modern theatre, his influence on other writers, and the connection between his visual imagination and his plays.
Featuring two renowned essays from Toril Moi's acclaimed work, this compact edition is tailored for university courses. It delves into feminist theory and gender studies, offering insightful analysis and thought-provoking perspectives. Ideal for academic settings, it presents critical discussions that challenge traditional notions of womanhood, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars alike.
Exploring the intersection of feminist critical practice and political implications, this book delves into how literary texts reflect and challenge feminist priorities. It examines the relationship between literary problems and broader feminist political perspectives, offering insights into how literature can serve as a platform for feminist discourse. Through critical analysis, it highlights the importance of understanding literature within the context of feminist activism and theory, ultimately advocating for a nuanced approach to feminist criticism.
This radically original book argues for the power of ordinary language philosophy—a tradition inaugurated by Ludwig Wittgenstein and J. L. Austin, and extended by Stanley Cavell—to transform literary studies. In engaging and lucid prose, Toril Moi demonstrates this philosophy’s unique ability to lay bare the connections between words and the world, dispel the notion of literature as a monolithic concept, and teach readers how to learn from a literary text. Moi first introduces Wittgenstein’s vision of language and theory, which refuses to reduce language to a matter of naming or representation, considers theory’s desire for generality doomed to failure, and brings out the philosophical power of the particular case. Contrasting ordinary language philosophy with dominant strands of Saussurean and post-Saussurean thought, she highlights the former’s originality, critical power, and potential for creative use. Finally, she challenges the belief that good critics always read below the surface, proposing instead an innovative view of texts as expression and action, and of reading as an act of acknowledgment. Intervening in cutting-edge debates while bringing Wittgenstein, Austin, and Cavell to new readers, Revolution of the Ordinary will appeal beyond literary studies to anyone looking for a philosophically serious account of why words matter.
