Theory and 'Post-Theory' in Literary Studies

To the Editor:

Karen J. Winkler's article on the status of theory in literary studies, "Scholars Mark the Beginning of the Age of `Post-Theory'" (October 13), caught my interest, especially the subtitle "`Isms' that have shaped literary study for 30 years have fallen off their pedestal." Really?

While I agree that theory has shifted from "philosophical speculations on the relativity of meaning" to "the cultures of particular racial, ethnic, or gender groups," I feel compelled