Given below are two statements:

Statement I: New Historicism stipulates that teleological connotations of history have to be eschewed.
Statement II: New Historicism neither denies nor accepts totalizing explanations of historical events.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

Correct option is C

Explanation:

New Historicism indeed rejects teleological explanations of history. Teleology implies that historical events are explained with a focus on their ultimate purpose or end goal. New Historicists argue that history is not linear or deterministic but is instead shaped by complex interactions of power, culture, and ideology.

While New Historicism avoids teleological or totalizing explanations, it does not take a neutral stance by "neither denying nor accepting" such explanations. Instead, New Historicists actively critique and reject totalizing narratives, emphasizing the fragmented, contingent, and constructed nature of historical accounts. They argue that history is always shaped by power relations and cultural contexts, making totalizing explanations inherently problematic.

Information Booster:

1. New Historicism challenges traditional historical criticism by focusing on how texts and cultural artifacts participate in and reflect power structures.
2. It emphasizes the constructed nature of historical narratives and rejects grand, unified accounts of history.
3. Stephen Greenblatt and other New Historicists have highlighted the interplay between historical contexts and textual production, showing how both are shaped by ideology and power.