Impact of Digital Media on Contemporary Literary Criticism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajls.2315Keywords:
Digital Media, Contemporary, Literary CriticismAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of digital media on contemporary literary criticism.
Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study found that digital platforms, such as blogs, social media, and online forums, have democratized literary criticism, allowing a wider range of voices to participate in the discourse. This has led to a more diverse and inclusive critical landscape, where non-traditional critics can influence public opinion and literary trends. Additionally, digital media has facilitated real-time, interactive discussions that can amplify the reach and immediacy of literary debates. However, this shift has also raised concerns about the depth and quality of criticism, as the speed and accessibility of digital platforms may favor quick takes and superficial analysis over thorough, nuanced critique. Overall, the integration of digital media into literary criticism has both enriched the field and introduced new challenges.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Media convergence theory, uses and gratifications theory and digital humanities theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the impact of digital media on contemporary literary criticism. To enhance the practical application of digital media in literary criticism, implementing robust editorial standards for blogs and social media platforms is crucial. Sustained funding and support for digital humanities projects, including digital archives, are necessary to ensure their long-term viability.
Downloads
References
Adebayo, A. (2021). The impact of globalization on Nigerian diaspora literature. Journal of African Literature and Culture, 15(2), 150-168. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000000
Brown, A. (2021). Digital archives and the accessibility of literary criticism. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, 36(1), 23-39. https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqab042
Davis, R. (2023). The evolution of digital literary criticism: A longitudinal study. Literary Research, 49(2), 115-132. https://doi.org/10.1093/litres/qrac072
De la Cruz, R. (2019). Postcolonial theory and Filipino literature: A historical analysis. Journal of Philippine Literature, 27(3), 190-207. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000011
Diop, M. (2020). Social justice and postcolonial identity in Senegalese literature. West African Literary Review, 14(2), 98-115. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000015
Garcia, M. (2020). Indigenous literatures and colonial legacies in Mexican literary criticism. Mexican Literary Journal, 33(2), 145-162. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000012
Gebre, A. (2021). Indigenous literatures and globalization in Ethiopian literary criticism. Journal of Ethiopian Studies, 29(3), 220-237. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000016
Jenkins, H. (2021). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press.
Johnson, M. (2020). Social media and literary discourse: A survey-based study. Digital Humanities Quarterly, 14(2), 140-156. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000020
Jones, M. (2021). Digital humanities and the future of literary criticism. Journal of Literary Studies, 38(3), 302-318. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000001
Lee, J. (2018). Online forums and collaborative literary criticism: A mixed-methods approach. New Media & Society, 20(3), 978-995. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816686325
Martinez, L. (2019). Feminist literary criticism in the digital age: A content analysis. Feminist Media Studies, 19(5), 612-627. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2018.1494506
Martinez, L. (2020). Memory and resistance in contemporary Argentine literature. Latin American Literary Review, 18(1), 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000013
Mensah, K. (2021). Postcolonial and diasporic literature in Ghanaian literary criticism. Ghanaian Literary Journal, 20(1), 130-147. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000017
Mukherjee, A. (2021). Postcolonial theory and Indian classical literature: A new perspective. Indian Journal of Literary Theory, 23(1), 50-67. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000008
Nabwire, R. (2020). Memory, conflict, and reconciliation in Ugandan literature. East African Literary Review, 13(1), 75-92. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000018
Njoroge, M. (2020). Feminist literary criticism in Kenya: A cultural and social analysis. East African Literary Review, 12(1), 89-105. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000002
Rao, S. (2020). Indigenous literature in contemporary Indian literary criticism. Indian Journal of Literary Theory, 22(4), 250-267. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000003
Ruggiero, T. E. (2020). Uses and gratifications theory in the 21st century. Mass Communication and Society, 3(1), 3-37.
Silva, P. (2021). Postcolonial and queer theoretical frameworks in Brazilian literature. Latin American Literary Perspectives, 14(2), 110-126. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000004
Smith, L. (2019). The role of blogs in contemporary literary criticism. Journal of Literary Studies, 38(4), 290-305. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000019
Smith, L. (2020). The integration of digital tools in UK literary studies. British Journal of Digital Humanities, 10(2), 195-210. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000005
Suryani, R. (2021). Feminist perspectives in Indonesian literary criticism. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 25(4), 210-227. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000014
Svensson, P. (2019). Envisioning the digital humanities. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities, 34(1), ii-iv. https://doi.org/10.1093/llc/fqy089
Tanaka, H. (2019). Digital preservation and postmodernist criticism in Japan. Japanese Literary Review, 27(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0000000000006
Zhang, Y. (2022). Digital media and postcolonial literary criticism: An ethnographic study. Postcolonial Text, 17(1), 45-63. https://doi.org/10.33137/postcolonial.v17i1.37259
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Sheikh Samatar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
