Which of the following sociologists’ ideas on the practice of receiving and giving gifts are used by J. Hillis Miller to reinforce her arguments in the essay, Critic as Host?

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct answer is Marcel Mauss.

In the essay Critic as Host, J. Hillis Miller draws on the ideas of sociologist Marcel Mauss, particularly his theory of gift exchange, as presented in his work The Gift.

Mauss explored the social and cultural significance of gift-giving and the reciprocal obligations it creates between individuals.

According to Mauss, giving and receiving gifts is a social act that creates bonds and obligations, and this concept is used by J. Hillis Miller to discuss the dynamics of literary criticism, where critics are involved in a similar exchange with their audience, offering interpretations and receiving responses in return.

Information Booster:

Marcel Mauss was a French sociologist, best known for his work on the sociology of exchange, particularly his theory of the gift. His work The Gift examines the cultural and social role of gift-giving in various societies.

Mauss' central idea is that gifts are never truly "free" but come with an obligation for the recipient to return the favor, creating a cycle of exchange. This idea is central to understanding social interactions, and Hillis Miller applies it to literary criticism.

J. Hillis Miller uses Mauss' theory of the gift to explore how the act of receiving and giving in literary criticism can establish a relationship between critics and their audiences.

The concept of the "host" in Miller's essay refers to the critic's role in offering interpretations, much like a host offering hospitality, and the "guests" are the readers or audience who reciprocate with their own engagement.

In the essay Critic as Host, Hillis Miller utilizes Mauss' ideas to argue that the act of literary criticism is a reciprocal exchange, where both critics and readers play active roles in the ongoing process of interpretation.

Additional Knowledge:

Emile Durkheim: Durkheim was a French sociologist known for his work on social structures, collective consciousness, and functionalism. 

Max Weber: Weber was a German sociologist who is known for his work on bureaucracy, authority, and the concept of the Protestant ethic. \

Daniel Bell: Bell was an American sociologist known for his work on post-industrial society.