Critical Inquiry Critical Inquiry

The fiftieth anniversary of Critical Inquiry marks more than the ongoing liveliness and longevity of one journal. It marks the ongoing importance of humanities journals tout court and the vitality of a field that persistently asks new questions and expands the borders of knowledge. As we begin our next fifty years, we remain committed to that vitality—to new authors, new research, and new conceptual paradigms that open new fields of inquiry.

Looking back at what the journal has accomplished and looking forward with undiminished aspiration, we want to express our gratitude to the University of Chicago Press and the Division of the Humanities at the University of Chicago for their unflagging support and to our authors (of articles, reviews, responses, and blog posts) and our readers, who so clearly justify the endeavor. In particular we’d like to celebrate the members of our coeditorial board (past and present), who sustain a dynamic, at times passionate conversation from across fields and theoretical dispositions.

To mark the occassion, we're posting short reflections on the history and importance of the journal from members of our editorial board and from frequent contributors to the journal. Join us as we celebrate Critical Inquiry at fifty.

What we’ve posted so far:

Catharine R. Stimpson’s “The Origins of Critical Inquiry"

Michael Fried’s “HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND THANKS"

Jerome McGann’s “The Roots of Critical Inquiry”

Elizabeth Abel’s “CI Special Issues"

Dipesh Chakrabarty’s “CI Moments"

Haun Saussy's "A Critical Inquiry Education"

Catherine Malabou's "Happy Anniversary!"

Stanley Fish's "Critical Inquiry, Mon Amour"

Robert Pippin's "Reading Critical Inquiry"

Thomas Pavel's "A Lesson in Kindness"

Lorraine Daston's "How We Know What We Know"

Harry Harootunian's "Blind Spots"

James Chandler's "Critical Disciplinarity Revisited"

Peter Galison's "Inquiry, Expanded"

More to come . . .