First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"Theory Matters is an authoritative and informed assessment of the current state of theory, which Vincent Leitch describes as "disaggregated" or "disorganized," a condition not of debility but of responsiveness to the cultural and socioeconomic conditions of contemporary society." -- John Guillory
"In this readable book, Vincent Leitch provides a stimulating (and well organized!) overview of postmodern 'disorganization.' The chapters on the making of the Norton Anthology of Criticism and Theory are a special bonus." -- Gerald Graff, Professor of English and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
"In this engaging and readable collection of essays, Vincent B. Leitch offers a diagnosis of the current state of literary and cultural studies." -- Josh Cohen, Literary Theory

Vincent Leitch holds the Paul and Carol Daube Sutton Chair in English at the University of Oklahoma. He is the general editor of the Norton Anthology of Criticism and Theory. His own books include Deconstructive Criticism (Columbia 1983), American Literary Criticism from the 1930s to the 1980s (Columbia, 1988), which was a Choice Outstanding Book, as well as two smaller books on theory from SUNY

Preface Part I: Theory Personalized Chapter 1: Theory Retrospective Chapter 2: Theory Favorites Chapter 3: Theory Fashion Chapter 4: Framing Theory Chapter 5: Inside The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism Chapter 6: Consolidating Theory (Interview) Chapter 7: Theory, Literature, and Literary Studies Today (Interview) Part II: Cultural Studies Practiced Chapter 8: Criticizing Globalization: The Case of Pierre Bourdieu Chapter 9: The New Economic Criticisms: The Rise of the Lilliputians Chapter 10: Postmodern Fashion Chapter 11: Blues Southwestern Style Chapter 12: Postmodern Interdisciplinarity Appendix Notes Index Olesen, and Nina Lykke