Strategii ale discursului critic despre postumanism: concepte, direcții, metaistorii

Abstract

This study delves into the intersection of post-2000 Romanian criticism and historiography with global theoretical discourses, emphasizing the application of posthumanism in metaliterary contexts. It employs theories of Hayden White, Andrei Terian, and Cary Wolfe to navigate the narrative aspects of the critical imagination, examining how posthumanism is manifested in recent discourse in terms of its historical, ideological, and methodological dimensions. The research includes a diverse range of sources, such as the anthology Posthumanism, literary historical chapters by Mihai Iovănel, academic articles by Bogdan Vișan and Andrada Strugaru, and monographs by Radu Vancu. This exploration reveals that these sources mostly align with contextualist arguments, tracing a literary and metaliterary historical trajectory structured by liberalism, as well as by elements of radicalism and conservatism. The articles, essays, book chapters, and monographs cited here often approach these ideas with an empathetic stance towards theoretical adaptation. By utilizing Cary Wolfe’s analytical framework, the study identifies a dominant trend of humanist posthumanism and posthumanist humanism influencing critical perspectives. However, it also highlights a lack of studies that fully acquire posthuman(ist) epistemologies and protocols as they are manifested in Western academia and activist fields.