Archive · 9 Nov 2025
Stephen Greenblatt: A Life in Humanities and Literary Theory
Stephen Greenblatt is a very famous professor who studies books and culture.
He helped create a new way to think about literature called 'New Historicism' or 'cultural poetics'.
This means he likes to read old stories and poems alongside other things that were happening in the world at that time, like old newspapers or drawings.
He believes that stories and poems aren't just made up, but they are also part of how a culture works and makes meaning.
This way of thinking helped him write popular books, like one about how the world became modern, which won big awards.
He believes that studying literature and culture is still very important today, especially when different kinds of experts work together.
He started out by thinking you should only read the words in a book, but later learned it's important to understand the world around the book too.
He finds Shakespeare fascinating, comparing him to a big planet that pulls everything else in.
Stephen Greenblatt is a leading American literary historian, instrumental in shaping the 'New Historicism' approach.
He advocates for 'cultural poetics,' which examines literary works alongside other cultural artifacts and practices.
Greenblatt's later works, such as 'The Swerve,' achieved significant popular success and critical acclaim, winning awards like the Pulitzer Prize.
He believes the Humanities remain relevant through interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological innovation.
Greenblatt's early academic focus shifted from New Criticism to incorporating historical and cultural contexts, influenced by scholars like Raymond Williams.
- Who
- Stephen Greenblatt, influential American literary historian and Professor of Humanities at Harvard University.
- What
- Discussed his career, the evolution of his thinking on literature and culture, and the relevance of the Humanities.
- When
- Reflecting on a 50-year career.
- Where
- In a conversation with Scroll.
- Why
- To share insights on his scholarly approach, legacy, and the enduring importance of literary and cultural studies.
- Full Name
- Stephen Greenblatt
- Born
- 1943
- Current Position
- John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University
- Key Contribution
- Architect of New Historicism (Cultural Poetics)
- Notable Works
- The Swerve: How the World Became Modern; Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare
- Awards
- National Book Award (2011), Pulitzer Prize (2012) for The Swerve