PROFESSIONALISM AT UNIVERSITY: THE DANGER OF A LITERARY CONSUMERISM

Résumé

There seems to be a deliberate distinction between a high theory and a mere theory of teaching among scholars. Teaching a theory, then, appears to embody a consumerist spirit that necessarily disdains the genius of this same theory. Besides, the urge towards professionalism at universities has contributed to spoil the uniqueness of individual responses to literary texts. In this respect, the present paper, first, points out the limitation of Reader-Response theory as the latter has gained educational settings in general and university practice in particular. Second, it aims at unveiling the reasons behind the ill implementation of this same theory. Finally, it puts the emphasis on the danger of perpetuating canonical literary texts.