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).
Our books will be available
at Von's Books: |
Class
Web Site
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Primers: |
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Slavoj Žižek, Looking Awry Dino Franco Felluga, Critical Theory: The Key Concepts |
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All other readings and the films will be made available through a Dropbox folder |
Jump to
Date: |
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NARRATOLOGY
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August 25, 2016 | ||
DAY ONE: The End is in the Beginning |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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September 1, 2016 | ||
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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NARRATOLOGY |
PSYCHOANALYSIS
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September 22, 2016 | ||
DAY FIVE: Trauma and Narrative |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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September 29, 2016 | ||
DAY SIX: Lacan 101 |
VIEWING |
Buffy, "Hush" |
READING |
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October 6, 2016 | ||
DAY SEVEN: The Gift of Death |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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October 20, 2016 | ||
DAY EIGHT: Feminist Lacan |
VIEWING |
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READING |
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TBA | ||
DAY NINE: Discussion of class projects
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PSYCHOANALYSIS |
POSTMODERNISM |
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October 27, 2016: PROSPECTUS IS DUE TODAY | ||
DAY TEN: I, Cyborg |
VIEWING: |
Ridley Scott, Bladerunner |
READING: |
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OPTIONAL: |
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November 10, 2016 | ||
DAY ELEVEN: Like, Really |
VIEWING: |
Andy and Larry Wachowski, The Matrix |
READING: |
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November 17, 2016 | ||
DAY TWELVE: The Laughter in the Prison Cell |
VIEWING: |
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READING: |
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OPTIONAL: |
Modernity and mise-en-scene in Brazil |
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POSTMODERNISM |
FINIS
Last Revised: July 29, 2016