Leavisism is a form of

literary studies A genre of arts criticism, literary criticism or literary studies is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical analysis of literature's ...

named after

F. R. Leavis Frank Raymond "F. R." Leavis ( ; 14 July 1895 – 14 April 1978) was an English literary critic of the early-to-mid-twentieth century. He taught for much of his career at Downing College, Cambridge, and later at the University of York. Leav ...

. Leavis was greatly influenced by

Matthew Arnold Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold (academic), Tom Arnold, literary professor, and Willi ...

and they share the notion that culture is the high point in civilization and concern of an educated minority. Leavis argues that prior to industrial revolution England had an authentic culture of the educated elite. For Leavis it was a golden age of an organic community with a lived culture of Folk-song and Folk-dance. Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice by Chris Barker, 12 Dec 2011

References

English literary critics Literary theory {{UK-lit-stub