New Historicism: Grab your history books

Alright history buffs, here is the theory for you. New Historicism takes a moment to step back and take a look at literature in regards to history, both ancient and recent. This theory, much against the approval of New Critics, believe that literature links itself to political, social, and cultural aspects of every day life.

While this theory could be applied to just about any piece of text, it focuses largely on the twentieth century. As one would assume, research plays a large role in this theory and works as the basis for what is produced. So turn on the History channel, guys, you're not getting all that research done just by sitting around and procrastinating.



Another aspect of New Historicism is that of Cultural Studies. These studies focus more largely on the cultural aspect of texts as opposed to solely the historical. This opens the doors to many different non-literary aspects of life that can be used in research such as music, fashion, letters, and movies.

Another important part of New Historicism to remember is that history is not linear. What does linear mean? Simple:



History does not follow in one, single, completely predictable line. One cannot focus solely on a few significant people of a time and assume that everything they did, and only what they did, can sum up the history for that time period. People who lived everyday, mundane lives mattered as well. If you still aren't grasping what I mean, try taking a look at the play Our Town by Oscar Wilde.



History can be found in and utilized through many different pieces of literature. By thinking outside of the box and looking through more than just the stereotypical names and events of a certain time period, one can see just how the mundane lifestyle may have structured a great piece of writing.


Citations:

"File:Linear Sorption Isotherm.svg." - Wikimedia Commons. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Linear_sorption_isotherm.svg>.

"History - Google Search." History - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=history&safe=off&rlz=1C1TSNO_enUS603US603&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOt7CmiszJAhUC2R4KHZZXCYYQ_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=599#safe=off&tbs=sur:fc&tbm=isch&q=oscar+wilde&imgrc=3736QvsKuShm3M%3A>.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_(Australian_TV_channel)>.