There are a lot of people talking about Critical Race Theory.  People are either heavily for it or heavily against it. There is also talk of whether it should be taught in schools. For those not familiar with the critical race theory, it is one of many literary theories used in critical analysis of literature.

“Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. In adopting this approach, CRT scholars attempt to understand how victims of systemic racism are affected by cultural perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to counter prejudice” (Critical Race Theory).

According to Purdue University, “A very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture” (Introduction to Literary Theory). Some of these theories were developed as far back as 360 BC such as Moral Criticism, Dramatic Construction. It is important to note that there is nothing wrong with learning about or using any of the theories. However, there can be issues when someone uses only one theory and when they treat that theory as fact.

These are the most commonly used literary theories: Moral Criticism, Dramatic Construction (~360 BC-present), Formalism, New Criticism, Neo-Aristotelian Criticism (1930s-present),Psychoanalytic Criticism, Jungian Criticism(1930s-present), Marxist Criticism (1930s-present), Reader-Response Criticism (1960s-present), Structuralism/Semiotics (1920s-present), Post-Structuralism/Deconstruction (1966-present), New Historicism/Cultural Studies (1980s-present), Post-Colonial Criticism (1990s-present), Feminist Criticism (1960s-present), Gender/Queer Studies (1970s-present), Critical Race Theory (1970s-present), and Critical Disability Studies (1990s-present). As one can see, there are a wide variety of topics used.

Literary theories and schools of criticism is usually taught at the college level; however, some states might teach these at a high school level. There is a lot of talk on social media about having one particular theory, which is the critical race theory, pulled from educational settings and banned from being taught. There is the common objection that this theory promotes racism. It’s important to note, that same logic can be applied to all of the literary theories and whatever they’re discussing. An example would be to say that the feminist criticism theory could promote feminism or that the Marxist criticism theory could promote a Marxist ideology. It is important that we keep all the theories and that they are to remain being taught in educational settings. It is an exchange of ideas and thought processes which is important to education, knowledge and growth in society as a whole. If we banned one literary theory such as the critical race theory, we would have to ban all the theories which would include the reader response theory. The reader response theory is using one’s own interpretation of what they read. If we got rid of that theory, we essentially get rid of free thought which is dangerous to a society. 

Works Cited

“Critical Race Theory // Purdue Writing Lab.” OWL // Purdue Writing Lab. Purdue University, Web. 1 Jul 2021. <http://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/critical_race_theory.html&gt;.

“Introduction to Literary Theory // Purdue Writing Lab.” OWL // Purdue Writing Lab. Purdue University, Web. 1 Jul 2021. <http://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/index.html&gt;.