Microsoft Word final-current Developments at the Intersection of British Children-online-version doc

3.2
 
Children’s literature criticism 
In order to make allowances for the fact that children’s literature is so variform, its 
current critics must be just as versatile as their subject. This feature of polyphony, which 
characterises the genre’s current situation, is therefore also found in its criticism. Whereas this 
versatility is the great potential of both literature and its criticism, the sheer amount and the 
simultaneity of approaches and views render the field less lucid. In order to give a structured 
overview of the situation we will thus focus on main theories and their representatives only.
6
The broad range of children’s literature criticism offers an ideal vantage point for the 
aims of our study, the analysis of the current developments at the intersection of British 
children’s literature and fantasy. As it examines the developments and phenomena of the 
field, children’s literature criticism is an important indicator for transformations of the current 
trends influenced by social, political and ecological progress. Differences of opinion 
contribute to a many-facetted analysis, which, in turn, helps to construct a multi-dimensional 
overall picture. Whereas from concurrences generalisations can be deducted, the divergences 
reveal interesting touchstones.
5
Critics inquire not only into a book’s quality aspects, but for instance also examine reader address, morals and 
messages, i.e. the current ideology, conveyed.
6
So as not to go beyond the scope of this study, minor or more specialised theories, irrespective of their 
originality, have to be discounted here. More extensive studies still need to examine
the entire bandwidth of 
topical children’s literature criticism.

---

68 
3.3
 
Important representatives and their influence 
In its diversity the field of current British children’s literature can take adult literature 
on any time. Not too long ago children’s literature was smiled at condescendingly and treated 
as a mere gateway literature for beginners. However, today’s literary scene faces a 
phenomenon which sceptics did not believe children’s literature to be capable of: Its 
emancipation. The more demanding topical publications become, the more literary critics 
become aware of its potential. They commence applying theories to literature for children, be 
they literary, social, political, gender-oriented or other, which so far have been limited to 
“serious” adult literature. This development can mean two things. Either, children’s literature 
has established itself as a literary form of equal rank with that of adults and is being respected 
and appreciated as such; or it diffuses with adult literature. It can therefore be observed that 
the landscape of children’s literature resembles that of adult literature in its diversity. As 
varied as the field are its researchers, its critics as well as their media. Whereas classically 
new theories and approaches are either published as monographs, articles in anthologies or 
magazines,
7
a new mouthpiece for children’s literature has emerged online. An increasing 
number of contributions like reviews, background information on authors and their work, fan 
club websites or fan fiction can be found on the internet.
As the twentieth century progresses in Britain, more and more authors and critics 
become self-confident of their work, its aesthetics, its use and importance. As a result, they 
venture into new areas of criticism, applying “adult” approaches to the maturing genre. 
Watson claims that with the changing notion of childhood the adaptation of a topical 
definition of children’s literature was made the focal point of criticism in the 20
th
century.
8
At 
the beginning of the 21
st
century, however, with fantasy literature for adults and that for 
children developing towards each other, critics start questioning the necessity for such a 
possibly outdated enterprise. Educational approaches have been complemented by social, 
cultural, philosophical, ethical and psychological ones. Also, more and more literary theories, 
either established or new, are being transferred to children’s literature, thus shifting the focus 
of attention increasingly towards textual criticism.
7
Among the many critical magazines on children’s literature of quality which focus on interesting phenomena 
and provide a platform for discussion of current topics are for example the American Books for Keeps, 
Children’s Literature, Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, The Horn Book Magazine, The Lion and the 
Unicorn; The Times Literary Supplement, Signal, Children’s Literature in Education or the German Eselsohr.
8
Compare Watson, The Cambridge Guide.

---

69 
It can be observed that at the turn of the millennium a concurrence of the pioneering 
works of children’s literature critics is their urge to classify, structure and define the genre so 
as to reveal its patterns and special features. So it is no wonder that regulative, standardising 
contributions to the genre are in demand at the time of academicism of children’s literature, 
on the basis of which further studies can be conducted.