Eagleton After Theory The Aesthetic Discourse Research

After Theory is a masterpiece of Eagleton who is a theorist and critic of contemporary western Marxism at the beginning of new century to readers. "Aesthetic discourse" is constructed of "aesthetic" and "discourse", which is a keyword of After Theory. We believe that "aesthetic discourse" is a better way to interpret Eagleton’s After Theory. This paper first regards the concept of "Aesthetic discourse"as a cut. Through this way, we can find social and historic conditions, basic meaning and theoretical character of "aesthetic discourse" and some inspiring significance for contemporary Chinese literary criticism.The preface of the paper presents the significance, the current research status and methods of this study. Chapter one is about the historical origin and practical context of the concept of "aesthetic discourse". The historical origin focuses on the social and historic feature and status of literature in 1860s, post-modernism, the Marxist theory and Eagleton’s inheritance. The practical context includes social realities and cultural status of Eagleton’s times. Through the analysis, we can know that the formation of concept of "aesthetic discourse" not only has deep history origin, but also takes roots in the contemporary era. Eagleton takes solving problems of times and making great efforts to change depraved customs of culture as his responsibility.Chapter two is about perusing After Theory. Through perusing and arguing we try our best to explain the connotation of Eagleton’s "aesthetic discourse". Firstly, the paper analyses the meaning of "discourse", the definition of the concept of "aesthetic discourse" and the theory construction which is based on it. The framework of Eagleton’s Theory tries to achieve three functions:transcend culture theory, the function of cultural ideology and political criticism. To some extent, based on recognizing the achievement of theory of culture, Eagleton’s "aesthetic discourse" transcends the theory of culture not only in the forms of language, but also in connotation and expressive function. The relative superiority of "aesthetic discourse" opens up the way for turning the literature study from inside to wider cultural field and for exerting ideological function of the literary criticism, political criticism being part of it. Intrinsic idea and historical evolution of literary theory is the result of influence of ideology of certain historical period, and the real power behind ideology is from political contexts and power game; whether ideology or political contexts and power game, they all melt in cultural criticism.Chapter three is mainly about theoretical character of "aesthetic discourse". The author outlines three points:the theoretical position of Western Marxism, subjective consciousness and critical spirit. In ideological foundation, value orientation and thinking method, After Theory reflects Eagleton’s profound knowledge of Marxist Theory, as a theorist of western Marxism. Eagleton also plays an active defender role of Marxism. The essential difference between Eagleton’s "aesthetic discourse" and general culture theory not only highlights readers’subjective consciousness, more importantly, combines seeking and reshaping subject with the ideal of people’s development in an all-round and freedom way to form one kind of lofty ideal. That means this ideal makes "aesthetic discourse" an outburst of strong and righteous of critical spirit, and makes Eagleton an active defender of MarxismIn the summary part, the author briefly concludes the main topic and the logic of the essay, then tries to discuss advantages and disadvantages of "aesthetic discourse" and to extract some beneficial revelation for contemporary Chinese literary criticism.