Difference Between New Historicism and Cultural Materialism

Key Difference – New Historicism vs Cultural Materialism

New historicism and cultural materialism are two literary theories that have similar characteristics. The key difference between new historicism and cultural materialism is thatNew Historicism专注于为了实现变革而必须克服的社会的压迫，而文化唯物主义则集中于如何实现这种变化。

What is New Historicism?

New historicism is a literary theory that involves the parallel reading of non-literary and literary texts of the same time. These non-literary texts are often used to frame the literary works, but both are treated equally; it does not give priority or privilege to a literary text. This theory is based on the concept that literature should be evaluated and interpreted within the context of the history of the author as well as the critic. This is because the critic’s response to a work is always influenced by his beliefs,prejudices, culture and environment.

New historicism acknowledges and is based on the concept that our understanding of literature changes with the changes in time. At the same time, New Historicism is considered to be anti-establishment and favours liberal ideas and personal freedoms.

The term New Historicism was coined by Stephen Greenblatt around 1980s. J.W. Lever and Jonathan Dollimore are two practitioners of this theory.

What is Cultural Materialism?

文化唯物主义的起源可以追溯到back to work of the left-wing literary critic Raymond Williams, who coined the term cultural materialism. It can be described as a blending of leftist culturalism and Marxist analysis. This theory came into being in the early 1980s along with new historicism. Cultural materialism deals with specific historical documents and attempt to analyse and recreate the dominant set of ideals or beliefs of a particular moment in history.

Jonathan Dollimore and Allen Sinfield identifies four characteristics of cultural materialism.

Historical context:what was happening at the time when this work was created?

Theoretical method:incorporation of older theories and models such as structuralism and post-structuralism

亲密的文本分析：building on theoretical analysis of canonical texts that are identified as ‘prominent cultural icons.’

Political Commitment: Incorporating political theories such as Feminist and Marxist theory

What is the difference between New Historicism and Cultural Materialism?

Focus:

New Historicismfocus on the oppressive aspects of society people has to overcome to achieve change.

Cultural Materialismfocuses on how that change is formed.

Views:

新历史学家claim that they are aware of the difficulties, limitations, contradictions and problems of trying to establish the truth; nevertheless, they believe in the truth of their work.

Cultural Materialist认为新的历史主义在政治上无效，因为它不相信绝对的真理或知识。他们认为文化唯物主义者不相信他们所写的内容。

Political Situation:

新历史学家situate a text within the political situation of its contemporary society.

Cultural Materialistssituate a text with the political situation of the critic’s contemporary world.

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