Interesting comment and I do agree. I think it’s only to be expected that in their research-level scholarship, literary critics/theorists are mostly talking amongst themselves (the same is the case with most academic specialties). But like you I’ve struggled to find interesting, accessible, eclectic/broadminded (i.e., not massively argument-driven, or as you put it “hyperspecialized”) readings by legitimate experts that really enhance my enjoyment of (especially) difficult works without trying to draw me down a rabbit hole of topics that are only of interest to lit-theorists.
Interesting comment and I do agree. I think it’s only to be expected that in their research-level scholarship, literary critics/theorists are mostly talking amongst themselves (the same is the case with most academic specialties). But like you I’ve struggled to find interesting, accessible, eclectic/broadminded (i.e., not massively argument-driven, or as you put it “hyperspecialized”) readings by legitimate experts that really enhance my enjoyment of (especially) difficult works without trying to draw me down a rabbit hole of topics that are only of interest to lit-theorists.