This book proposes the necessity of a new critical attitude appropriate to a post enlightenment social and political condition Theory the intellectual and his or her knowledge has been institutionalised and tamed the critic interested in praxis must find a new means of establishing an effective intellection After Theory argues the demand for a post theoretical or ana theoretical attitude which will recondition and regenerate critique under the aegis of a philosophical and austere postmarxism The waking of theory advanced here ranges eclectically over twentieth century practice in philosophy literature painting music dance architecture film and photography breaking theory from its institutionalised bonds