By Phil Williams
Earlier generations who grew up memorizing “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” might not recognize literary studies these days at some universities. Instead of studying historical context and the power of iambic pentameter, scholars increasingly deconstruct texts using the concepts of  race, class and gender.
These new approaches have been enlightening, but some scholars feel they have caused students and teachers to lose sight of the literary imagination itself. That’s why, in 1993, a group of literary researchers founded a new organization named the Association of Literary Scholars and Critics. With a goal of returning to the study of literature with a less sociological focus, the group has slowly but steadily added members--and touched off controversy in academic circles.
Now the group has begun publishing a journal--Literary Imagination--to share its approach, and a classics professor at UGA, Sarah Spence, is discovering the joys and perils of being its editor.
“The idea behind the group from the beginning was to turn literary studies back to literature,” says Spence. “A lot of people believe that literature has somehow gotten lost in the academic fray.”
The 170-page initial issue of Literary Imagination shows strong support from some of America’s best-known writers. Among those publishing new work are poets Mark Strand and W.S. Merwin, novelist and poet Margaret Atwood and noted literary historian Roger Shattuck. Planned for an upcoming issue is a never-before-published essay by W.H. Auden.
Literary Imagination, which will come out three times a year, in May, October and February, is unusual among American literary journals in that it combines modern and classical literature with creative writing and scholarly criticism.
“Literary Imagination aims to explore a land that is both old and new at the same time,” says Spence. “Our objective is to publish works that refocus literary studies on literature. We considered many titles for the new journal, but we believe that Literary Imagination sums up our commitment to literature’s enduring worth and beauty.”
 The new journal is being celebrated at promotional events in Berkeley, New York and Boston this month. Contributors will read from their works at each event.
The ALSC is tiny in comparison to the Modern Language Association, which is strongly associated with the current interest in literary studies focusing on gender, race and class. While the MLA has more than 30,000 members, the ALSC has fewer than 2,500. The ALSC approach to literary studies has led the academic journal Lingua Franca to call the ALSC the “anti-MLA.”
Most members of the group, however, insist they are not looking for an argument with the MLA. Still, the ALSC was founded at least partially over dismay at the current interests of the MLA and the profession of literary criticism in general. Since the ALSC’s manifesto was first written in 1993, the group has grown from 380 to 2,150, but its influence has been minor so far.
The new journal is just one part of the growing organization, which now has a quarterly newsletter, a Web site, a $1,000 yearly prize for outstanding scholarship and an executive director who runs the group’s office in Michigan.
“A lot of people in literary studies thought we weren’t getting to talk about literature any more,” says Spence. “We wanted to be able to take a broader look at literature.
“The name of the new journal perfectly explains what we want to see brought back into the dialogue--the literary imagination.”
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