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How Theory Took Over the World
The French writers of the postwar era argued that the author's life is irrelevant. Emily Eakin's lively new book proves them wrong.
TL;DR
- The article reviews Emily Eakin's book "The Frenchmen," which explores French post-structuralist theory.
- Eakin's book connects the lives of theorists like Foucault, Derrida, and Althusser to their philosophical ideas, challenging the theory's emphasis on the irrelevance of biography.
- The review notes the historical context of French theory, emerging during a time of perceived societal complacency and instability.
- The article contrasts the abstract nature of theory with the messy realities of the theorists' lives, including personal struggles and historical events.
- The review posits that Eakin's approach makes complex ideas more accessible and relevant to understanding current issues like the slipperiness of truth and surveillance.
- The author of the review reflects on their own past engagement with theory and its potential obsolescence due to AI.