About the course:
Theory is a polarizing word: some enjoy its abstractions, others yearn for the concrete. Applied to the humanities, theory is a record of attempts to understand aspects of ourselves that seem essentially human, such as language, art, history, and literature. But perhaps the project of understanding the human is a pipe dream, unrealizable in any interesting way. If so, theory may end up telling us why it can't be done, so it's potentially a bearer of uncomfortable news, a destroyer of illusions.
The aim of the course is to teach you something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, about the types of theory relevant to the humanities. And (jumping up a level) the aim is also to teach you to view these theories critically, with one eye on their methodological consequences, and another on the deeper problems raised by the very idea of theory for the humanities. And through all this, you'll need to keep yet another eye (we aim to keep all three eyes open in this course) on their relevance for your own work. You will need to participate actively in the course: we'll be discussing texts, debating issues, and above all, trying to get to grips with why (and how) theory can be useful in your own work.
The aim of the course is to teach you something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, about the types of theory relevant to the humanities. And (jumping up a level) the aim is also to teach you to view these theories critically, with one eye on their methodological consequences, and another on the deeper problems raised by the very idea of theory for the humanities. And through all this, you'll need to keep yet another eye (we aim to keep all three eyes open in this course) on their relevance for your own work. You will need to participate actively in the course: we'll be discussing texts, debating issues, and above all, trying to get to grips with why (and how) theory can be useful in your own work.
Lecture plan:
Useful books
How do you get to grips with Theory for the Humanities? Here's one way: read some, think some, read some more, think some more, read even more, think even more, and keep going like that for quite some time. Ok - but what should you read? Well, you'll find lots of good suggestions in the course reader. But I've also listed some accessible points of entry here, with comments. Keep an eye on this space, as I'll be adding more.
An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and TheoryAndrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle (Authors)
This is an exceptionally good collection of critical essays, beautifully written, which show how to think about literature in many different ways. The choice of texts is broad (you're practically certain to meet an author here that you'd like to know better) and the analytical perspectives instructive. It doesn't put a foot wrong. Highly recommended. |
A New History of the Humanities: The Search for Principles and Patterns from Antiquity to the PresentRens Bod (Author)
A new book on the history of the humanities. Covers both western and non-western traditions form ancient times to the present day. Likely to become a standard reference. Extremely useful- |
The Way of The Sign: Cultural Text Theory in Two StepsCamelia Elias (Author)
A short and straightforward introduction to key topics in critical theory. Its five chapters are: Structuralism and Deconstuctionism, Marxism and Psychoanalysis, Feminism and Queer, Postcolonialism and Diaspora, Presence and Complexity. Vivid and direct, it offers both high-level exposition of theory and concrete discussion of film and text. |
The Social Construction of What?Ian Hacking (Author)
One of the clearest expositions of social constructivism I know of, written by an analytic philosopher deep under the spell of Foucault. Highly readable, with an original (and detailed) account of the difference between theorizing in the natural and human sciences. |
Textual Strategies: Perspectives in Post-structuralist Criticism
Josue V. Harari (Editor)
Classic and influential collection of poststructuralist and deconstructionist texts. Some of the papers have lost their glow in the intervening years, but the Foucault, the Barthes, the Said and several others are well worth reading. |
The Theory Toolbox: Critical Concepts for the Humanities, Arts and Social SciencesJeffrey Nealon, Susan Searls Giroux (Authors)
A thematically organized text; that is, it does not systematically explore the thoughts of one particular thinker or school of thought, rather each chapter explores a general theme. The authors strive to make their discussion down-to-earth and accessible. You may find some parts of this textbook useful preparation for the course, For example Chapter One (Why theory?) and Chapter Nine (Posts). |
Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and SocietyRaymond Williams (Author)
Raymond Williams was a pioneer of cultural studies, and this collection of mini-essays, originally published in 1976 discussed the meaning of 110 important concepts. Tt's grown since then, and is still great to read through or dip into as the mood takes you. So you want to know what ''theory'' means...? Or ''ideology'' or ''sex'' or ''genius'' or ''elite''...? |