Literary Theory: A Reintroduction introduces the current state of theory by placing it in its social, historical, and institutional contexts. * Focuses on the period preceding the 8216;theory movement8217; of the 1970s and 1980s as well as the aftermath * Asks questions about how and why literary theory evolved in the 20th century * Discusses key figures such as F.R. Leavis, Raymond Williams, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Alain Badiou * Examines the influence of a wide range of topics in the field, from the Cold War to the culture wars