Since the beginning of the 20th century formalism has had a venerable tradition in literary
studies. A notable upsweep of interest in proposed approaches to and scholarly debates about
form and new formalist methods in the study of literature and culture has been evident in
recent years. New formalist perspectives offer intriguing analytical possibilities that move
beyond focusing solely on the formal features of texts to also consider contextual relations.
This volume explores the horizons and heuristic potential opened up by new formalisms of the
21st century that focus on the cultural work of form. It aims to put the conceptual and
analytical potentials offered by new formalist approaches on display as well as under scrutiny.
Its articles present critical new-formalist examinations of early modern Victorian modern and
contemporary Anglo-American literature as well as a television series films and a graphic
novel. With these case-study analyses the volume demonstrates the wide-ranging applicability
of a renewed and growing field in the study of literary and culture.
