本书介绍了本世纪初各种“批评状态”。在结构上，每章都探究和解释该章所陈述的理论，提供3～4页简短的文学作品、电影作品、网络作品的原文以供阅读，并且以提出问题引发进一步思考以及补充参考文献的形式结束该章。其中批评性的阅读材料，为研究者提供了学习和研究资源，并展示了理论应用的范围。

本书从多角度介绍了文学批评的发展趋向，内容涉及Diaspora Criticism，Gender and Transgender Criticism，Women of Color and Feminist Criticism，Chaos Theory，Complexity Theory and Criticism，Ethical Criticism，Trauma and Testimonial Criticism，Ecocriticism，Spatial Criticism，Cybercriticism，Deleuzean Criticism，Levinas and Criticism，Spectral Criticism and(A)material Criticism。

  Acknowledgements

  Julian Wolfreys: Introduction

               IDENTITIES

1 Sudesb Misbra: Diaspora criticism

2 Sarah Gamble: Gender and transgender criticism

3 Tace Hedrick and Debra Walker King:

  Women of color and feminist criticism

               DIALOGUES

4 Stuart Sire: Chaos theory, complexity theory and criticism

5 Kennetb Womack: Ethical criticism

6 Julian Wolfreys: Trauma, testimony, criticism

             SPACE AND PLACE

7 Kate Rigby: Ecocriticism

8 Pbillip E. Wegner: Spatial criticism

9 Stacy Gillis: Cybercriticism

             CRITICAL VOICES

10 Claire Colebrook: Deleuzean criticism

11 Frederick Young: Levinas and criticism

       MATERIALITY AND THE IMMATERIAL

12 David Punter: Spectral criticism

13 Tom Cohen: (A)material criticism

  Notes on contributors

  Index