Charles J. Stivale
361 Manoogian, 577-0970
C_Stivale@wayne.edu
General Syllabus
General Description and Goals
This seminar, as part of the Ph.D. minor in cultural studies and
literary criticism, is intended to provide participants with a
broad understanding of different links between current issues
both in Cultural Studies and literary studies as they relate to
the field of French, specifically, and more broadly, to academic
research and debate in languages and literature. In particular,
-- To provide a basis for pursuing research in Cultural Studies in relation to literary studies, we will review a number of theoretical premises on which Cultural Studies and work in literary criticism are based.
-- To approach the relationship of Cultural Studies to the field of French, we will read essays that have deliberately reflected on these links and also critical works of authors who have inspired research in both Cultural Studies and French studies.
One curious facet of this course is that we will not be focusing
on specific literary texts as such, but rather on writings -about-
literary and cultural texts -and- on writings that discuss the
professional implications of these kinds of writings. While I
certainly do not wish to minimize in any way the importance of
engaging with primary literary texts as well as with
literary critical sources that address these texts, I understand
the meta- and meta-meta-critical emphases of this course as having
a complementary goal: to provide students (both those intending
to enter the academic profession and those interested in broadening
their critical acumen) with tools for working with literary -and-
cultural texts and with a clearer understanding of what the
stakes might be in undertaking such work at the end of the twentieth
century.
Required Book for the Seminar
Le Hir, Marie-Pierre, and Dana Strand, ed. French Cultural
Studies: Criticism at the Crossroads (Albany, NY: SUNY
Press, 2000).
+ extensive readings available on reserve at the Purdy/Kresge Library.
Seminar Organization (cf. Detailed Program for specific
dates):
I. Weeks 3-5: Mythologies, Past and Present
II. Weeks 5-8: Reading Practices and Cultural Studies
III. Weeks 8-10: Cultural Studies: Synopses/Critiques
IV. Weeks 11-15: Readings of and with Key Cultural Theorists