ENGL 696: Learning Theory through Pop Culture
This class will seek to explain and exemplify various theoretical approaches to literature and culture by way of popular entertainment. Following the lead of Slavoj Žižek, who published the essay collection, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Lacan but Were Afraid to Ask Hitchcock, the class will function as a thorough and rigorous analysis of some of the most perplexing and pervasive issues in and ideological contradictions of our contemporary postmodern world, examined through the lens of pop culture. The course will also clarify some of the major theories currently influencing cultural criticism today, even as we implement the tools of cultural critique throughout the semester. Each theoretical approach will be paired with an example in pop culture: Narratology through the X-Files; Psychoanalysis through Buffy, the Vampire Slayer; Postmodernism through Bladerunner, the Matrix, and Brazil; and a final wrap-up of all the theories through Fight Club (along with some Marxism).
One book will be available
at Von's Books: |
Guide
to Theory
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| Modules: |
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| Slavoj Žižek, Looking Awry | |
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| Definitions:
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| Introductions: |
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The Guide to Theory will be available here
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| Class
Web Site
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| Primers: |
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| Jump to
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| NARRATOLOGY
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| January 10, 2012 | ||
DAY ONE: The End is in the Beginning |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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| January 17 , 2012 | ||
| DAY TWO: Beyond the Leisure Principle |
VIEWING |
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| READING |
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| DAY THREE: I Want to Believe the Truth is Out There |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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| DAY FOUR: L'age été |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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OPTIONAL |
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| February 7, 2012 | ||
| DAY FIVE: Trauma and Narrative |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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| Valentine's Day, 2012 | ||
| DAY SIX: Lacan 101 |
VIEWING |
Buffy, "Hush" |
READING |
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| February 21, 2012 | ||
| DAY SEVEN: The Gift of Death |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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| February 28, 2012 | ||
| DAY EIGHT: Feminist Lacan |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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| March 6, 2012 | ||
DAY NINE: Discussion of class projects
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| April 10, 2012 | ||
DAY THIRTEEN: Discussion of class projects
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| April 17, 2012 | ||
| DAY FOURTEEN : I Don't Know Jack |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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OPTIONAL |
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| April 24, 2012 | ||
| DAY FIFTEEN : Hey, You! |
VIEWING |
David Fincher, Fight Club |
READING |
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FINIS
Last Revised: January 5, 2012