Literary CRITISM vs. Literary THEORY

There's a difference. Gosh, what a good point to make!

literary CRITICISM
-- "tries to explain the literary work to us: its production, its meaning, its design, its beauty."

literary THEORY
-- "tries to explain the assumptions and values upon which various forms of literary criticism rest."

a literary CRITIC
-- "has a tendency to interpet rather than to evaluate literature" and their opinions impact the literary marketplace "in terms of which works they choose to interpet and which works they ignore." Even though critics themselves may not even be aware of what theory informs their opinions, popular critics (and the theories which they use) are consequently powerful shapers of culture.

So, one applies literary theory in order to achieve literary criticism. Everybody does it, whether or not they know they do it, and a responsible academic / critic / human being should critically examine what assumptions inform their interpretation - not just of literature, really, but of the world. After all, everybody's a critic. But not everyone realizes the conceptual framework which tints their worldview, leading to assumptions, blind spots, and stunted growth. As a person, or as an academic, of course.

*All citations from Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today, 2006.