William Deresiewicz: Academe's Divorce From Reality

I could almost not agree with this more.

I've said almost all of it here many times over the last decade.

(I know that's generally an eyerollerific kind of thing to say...but it's true...)

I'd only add or delete a few things:

Add:

   Don't forget that 'theory' (or 'Theory') basically means: literary theory broadly construed.

It's basically bad literary theory + insane leftist "identity" politics.

Think of a paradigm of shitty literary theory: the method is so loose/sloppy that absolutely anything, no matter how idiotic, can be made to seem to comport with the thesis via eyerollingly ridiculous verbal legerdemain. Hamlet's all about kinky sex...but there's no kinky sex in it? Are not Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a kind of threesome? Does not Hamlet penetrate Polonius? Is not his adoration for Yorick a kind of necrophilia? And as for his relationship with Gertrude...need we even say more...?

Delete:

   I think it's crazy to say that Trump is evil. I mean, really, really crazy. He may be a little bit of a criminal (see: Trump "University"). And he's pretty appalling...

   But no, he is not "evil."

   But anyway, I generally agree with the author's point
   The worse you try to make Trump out to be, the worse the "Theory"-addled left is: the nation resoundingly chose Trump over you.

Also:

Stop pulling the punch. The "Theory"-addled left isn't "totalistic"...

You know what the relevant word is.

You should say it.