A Study On Derek Attridge's Theory Of Literary Event

Event,as one of the common terms in philosophy and literary criticism in the second half of the twentieth century,has become one of the key words of contemporary literary circles after being interpreted by numerous theorists,which then as a way of thinking is favored by literary therapists.Derek Attridge,a British literary theorist,introduced "event" in the field of philosophy as a methodology into the discussion of literary issues and formed his own theory of literary event by which provides a useful example of criticism to examine the legitimacy of literature in the post-theoretical era.Attridge treats literature as an event rather than as an object which reflects his sharp understanding of what is literature.Literature is a state which is to be opened and in need of response.In French philosophers Lyotard and Derrida's discourses on "event",Attridge saw the key point in the rift between philosophical event and literary event—repeatability,and treats it as a bridge to bring the event into the discussion of literary issues,which makes the elucidation of the theory of literary event from the aspects of language,concept,acceptance and ethics become possible.With the emergence of singularity,the core category of literary event theory,the delicate relationship between literature and ethics and politics can be explored.At the concern of Levinas' s ethical philosophy and Derrida's hospitality,Attridge advanced the deep thinking between literary issues and realistic concerns,and expanded the connotation and denotation of literary theory.Among them,literature,as a natural open space,provides an excellent field for thinking about ethical issues.The unpredictability of the impact of literature on the real world requires that readers,with their hospitality,welcome the heterogeneity brought about by literary works.Along with guidance of the core idea of literature as an event,Attridge proposed a kind of non-allegorical literary criticism,where the aesthetic dimension of his literary theory is also highlighted under the consideration of this criticism.However,the conflicts that affected the formation of Attridge's literary theory thoughts laid a difficult gap for the elucidation of the ideology of literary criticism.This rift further manifests itself as the blind spots and the dilemmas that the literary event theory implies when comparing his thought with that of Eagleton' s literary theory of event.Of course,the existence of the blind spots and the dilemmas is not just limitation,but rather the beginning of our thinking.In the Chinese context,the revelation of literary event theory on the construction and development of contemporary Chinese literary theory is mainly reflected in excavating traditional resources,arousing the vitality of literary theory,promoting dialogue and exchange,and constructing the contemporary discourse system.