Partisan Review

Partisan Review was a New York City-based literary magazine that played a significant role in shaping American literature and cultural criticism from the 1930s to the 1990s. Founded by William Phillips and Philip Rahv, the magazine was known for its Marxist and Trotskyist leanings, as well as its association with prominent writers such as Lionel Trilling, Dwight Macdonald, and Mary McCarthy. The magazine's early years were marked by its involvement with the New York Intellectuals, a group of writers and thinkers that included Irving Howe, Hannah Arendt, and Daniel Bell. The magazine's influence extended beyond the literary world, with contributors such as Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse shaping the development of critical theory and Frankfurt School thought.

● History

The history of Partisan Review is closely tied to the intellectual and cultural developments of the 20th century. The magazine's founding in 1934 coincided with the rise of fascism in Europe, and its early issues featured articles and essays by writers such as Leon Trotsky, André Breton, and Pablo Picasso. The magazine's editorial positions were shaped by the Spanish Civil War, the Moscow Trials, and the Hitler-Stalin Pact, with contributors such as George Orwell, Arthur Koestler, and Ignazio Silone weighing in on these events. The magazine's history also reflects the Cold War era, with contributors such as Sidney Hook, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Leszek Kołakowski engaging with the intellectual and ideological debates of the time.

● Founding_and_Early_Years

The founding of Partisan Review in 1934 was a response to the perceived lack of intellectual rigor and radical politics in the American literary scene. The magazine's early years were marked by a series of debates and controversies, including the New York Intellectuals' critique of Stalinism and the Soviet Union. The magazine's founders, William Phillips and Philip Rahv, were influenced by the Marxist and Trotskyist traditions, as well as the avant-garde movements of Europe. The magazine's early contributors included writers such as Delmore Schwartz, Saul Bellow, and Ralph Ellison, who would go on to become major figures in American literature. The magazine's early years also saw the involvement of Clement Greenberg, Harold Rosenberg, and Lionel Abel, who shaped the magazine's coverage of art criticism and cultural theory.

● Editorial_Positions

The editorial positions of Partisan Review were shaped by the magazine's Marxist and Trotskyist leanings, as well as its commitment to intellectual freedom and cultural criticism. The magazine's editors, including William Phillips and Philip Rahv, were influenced by the New York Intellectuals and the Frankfurt School, and the magazine's pages featured debates and discussions on topics such as Stalinism, fascism, and capitalism. The magazine's editorial positions were also shaped by the Cold War era, with contributors such as Sidney Hook, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Leszek Kołakowski engaging with the intellectual and ideological debates of the time. The magazine's coverage of art criticism and cultural theory was influenced by writers such as Clement Greenberg, Harold Rosenberg, and Lionel Abel, who shaped the development of modern art and postmodernism.

● Notable_Contributors

Partisan Review featured a wide range of notable contributors, including writers such as Lionel Trilling, Dwight Macdonald, and Mary McCarthy. The magazine also published work by Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse, who shaped the development of critical theory and Frankfurt School thought. Other notable contributors included George Orwell, Arthur Koestler, and Ignazio Silone, who wrote about politics and culture in the 20th century. The magazine's pages also featured the work of Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, and Delmore Schwartz, who would go on to become major figures in American literature. The magazine's coverage of art criticism and cultural theory was influenced by writers such as Clement Greenberg, Harold Rosenberg, and Lionel Abel, who shaped the development of modern art and postmodernism.

● Influence_and_Legacy

The influence of Partisan Review can be seen in the development of American literature and cultural criticism in the 20th century. The magazine's commitment to intellectual freedom and cultural criticism helped shape the work of writers such as Lionel Trilling, Dwight Macdonald, and Mary McCarthy. The magazine's coverage of art criticism and cultural theory influenced the development of modern art and postmodernism, with writers such as Clement Greenberg, Harold Rosenberg, and Lionel Abel shaping the field. The magazine's legacy can also be seen in the work of later writers and thinkers, such as Susan Sontag, Christopher Lasch, and Todd Gitlin, who engaged with the intellectual and ideological debates of the 1960s and 1970s. The magazine's influence extends beyond the literary world, with its commitment to critical theory and cultural criticism shaping the development of academic disciplines such as cultural studies and critical theory.

● Closure_and_Heritage

Partisan Review ceased publication in 2003, after a run of nearly seven decades. The magazine's closure was marked by a series of tributes and reflections on its influence and legacy, with writers such as Leon Wieseltier and Joseph Epstein paying tribute to the magazine's commitment to intellectual freedom and cultural criticism. The magazine's heritage can be seen in the work of later writers and thinkers, such as Susan Sontag, Christopher Lasch, and Todd Gitlin, who engaged with the intellectual and ideological debates of the 1960s and 1970s. The magazine's legacy also extends to the development of academic disciplines such as cultural studies and critical theory, with its commitment to critical theory and cultural criticism shaping the field. The magazine's archives are now housed at the Boston University library, where they remain an important resource for scholars and researchers. Category:American literary magazines