On The Subjective Criticism

Subjective criticism is a type of critical method that critic is the center of criticism. It recognizes critic's subjective experience, and it emphasizes critic's initiative and creativity in the course of criticism. Furthermore, its expression is full of artistry. The highest purpose of subjective criticism is not in seeking of objective and permanent truth of literature, but in pursuing of personal comprehension and expression. The critical articles often take on various images and flush sentiment. This paper expounds the characteristics, criteria, functions, thinking modes and main types of subjective criticism, and introduces two main types of subjective criticism. Finally, the paper analyzes the weaknesses of subjective criticism, and presents the expectations of its future.The first part: the evolution of subjective criticism and contemporary studies. After a brief review of the history of subjective criticism, this part analyzes contemporary studies in China and the Western world.The second part: the characteristics of subjective criticism. It is the most important part of the thesis in which four characteristics of subjective criticism are expounded.The third part: the criteria and the functions of subjective criticism. This part discusses the individuation and relativity of critical criteria, and stresses the appreciation and expression of critical functions.The fourth part: the thinking modes of subjective criticism. There are three kinds of thinking modes in subjective criticism. They are "youwo" thinking, intuitional thinking and visual thinking.The fifth part: the main types of subjective criticism. This part mainly presents two types of subjective criticism: "pinping" criticism and impressional criticism. Moreover, a comparison is made between them.The sixth part: the evaluation of subjective criticism. There are many weaknesses in subjective criticism. The thesis points out that one-side thinking will endanger the development of literature criticism. Criticism should combine the objective and the subjective aspects of critical course.