CRITICAL INQUIRY

Scope & Guideline

Elevating Academic Conversations in the Humanities

Introduction

Welcome to the CRITICAL INQUIRY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of CRITICAL INQUIRY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0093-1896
PublisherUNIV CHICAGO PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Converge1976, from 1985 to 1987, from 1996 to 2024
AbbreviationCRIT INQUIRY / Crit. Inq.
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address1427 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60637-2954

Aims and Scopes

CRITICAL INQUIRY is a journal dedicated to the exploration of critical theory across various disciplines, emphasizing literary studies, cultural criticism, and philosophical inquiry. Its aim is to interrogate and analyze the interplay between culture, politics, and aesthetics, often through innovative methodologies that challenge traditional narratives.
  1. Interdisciplinary Critical Theory:
    The journal publishes works that draw from multiple fields including literature, philosophy, political theory, and cultural studies, promoting a cross-disciplinary approach to understanding contemporary issues.
  2. Cultural Criticism:
    CRITICAL INQUIRY focuses on critical examinations of cultural artifacts, practices, and ideologies, analyzing how they shape and reflect societal values and power dynamics.
  3. Innovative Literary Analysis:
    The journal emphasizes new methodologies in literary studies, often exploring the intersections of literature with technology, politics, and identity, and seeking to redefine the parameters of what constitutes literary criticism.
  4. Engagement with Contemporary Issues:
    Papers frequently address urgent social and political topics, such as race, gender, and globalization, making the journal relevant to current debates and cultural phenomena.
  5. Exploration of Aesthetics and Ethics:
    The journal investigates the ethical implications of artistic and cultural practices, often questioning the role of aesthetics in shaping moral and philosophical discourses.
CRITICAL INQUIRY has increasingly embraced new themes and methodologies, reflecting contemporary issues and the changing dynamics of cultural and literary studies. The following emerging scopes highlight the journal's adaptability and responsiveness to current scholarly trends.
  1. Queer Theory and LGBTQ+ Studies:
    There is a growing focus on queer theory and LGBTQ+ studies, exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and representation, as the journal seeks to amplify voices and experiences that challenge heteronormative frameworks.
  2. Digital Humanities and Media Studies:
    As digital technologies continue to transform cultural production, the journal has seen an increase in works that examine the implications of digital media, including the impact of social media and algorithmic culture.
  3. Environmental and Ecocritical Perspectives:
    Emerging themes in environmental criticism and ecocriticism reflect a heightened awareness of ecological issues, with papers exploring the relationships between literature, culture, and the environment.
  4. Posthumanism and Non-Human Agency:
    The journal has begun to explore posthumanist perspectives, examining the role of non-human entities and the implications of technology on human experience, challenging anthropocentric views.
  5. Globalization and Transnationalism:
    Increased attention is being paid to globalization and transnationalism, with research that interrogates cultural exchanges and the complexities of identity in a globalized world.

Declining or Waning

While CRITICAL INQUIRY continues to thrive in many areas, certain themes have shown a decline in prominence over recent years. This reflects shifting scholarly interests and the evolving landscape of critical theory.
  1. Traditional Literary Canon:
    There appears to be a reduced focus on the traditional literary canon, as the journal increasingly emphasizes marginalized voices and contemporary texts rather than classical literature.
  2. Historical Narratives:
    Papers centered on straightforward historical narratives have become less frequent, with a noticeable shift towards more complex, fragmented, and non-linear approaches to history.
  3. Formalism in Literary Studies:
    The reliance on formalist approaches, which prioritize the structure and form of texts over context and content, has waned in favor of more contextual, interdisciplinary analyses.
  4. Conventional Criticism:
    There is a declining interest in conventional criticism that does not engage with broader socio-political contexts, as the journal seeks to push boundaries and challenge established norms.
  5. Eurocentric Perspectives:
    The journal has moved away from Eurocentric analyses, focusing more on global perspectives and the implications of postcolonial thought, leading to a decrease in papers that center solely on Western literary traditions.

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