This study presents a critique of social constructionist identity politics, which is distinguished from specific identity-based political positions, from within and with social constructionist commitments. Gupta examines the institutionalization of social constructionist identity politics in literary studies, considering the notions of canonicity.
'Gupta's book is a timely intervention which wrestles with the legacy of theory and the intellectual fallout of identity politics in the humanities. This is a wide-ranging, intelligent and politically-engaged study that refocuses our attention on exactly what it is we do, and should be doing, when we study literature and culture.' - Dr Mark Turner, King's College, University of London, UK