On the Fundamental Gestures of Criticism
Jean Starobinski|Bruno Braunrot
entiation when works coexist not only with a public which receives them, but qualified representatives of this public, who are the first to express what others feel less clearly. It is then that we witness emergence specifically critical texts, forming class their own, constituting distinct genre (and demanding in turn specialized attention historian). But division labor, clear-cut distinction between creation and criticism, intervention demands one reaction-albeit relatively sophisticated one-to presence works; it response implies new (that critics) recruited among readers Interest must be aroused for themselves, also those take other texts as object. There are, however, types reaction than discourse -reactions at sophisticated, confined secondary role reflective whose object creative literature. These reactions no important always being detectable. Chronologically they precede explicit criticism; yet contribute better understanding circumstances originated well reasons its appearance. Moreover, reflections apply works, variety attitudes diversity means approach cannot understood terms changes literary taste alone. When considers closely has been said [oeuvres de langage], examines statements criteria judgments, changing roles ascribed whom today call writers, comes realize stake
New Literary History