Theorizing Literature
Wednesdays 1-3:45, Hagerty 71
Dr. Ashley Hope Pérez
This graduate seminar seeks to orient students in the crowded landscape of literary theory and criticism. Although neither a historical account of theory nor a survey of the current field, it will help students locate landmark theoretical developments and track the shifting conversations and debates in literary studies. Spotlighted areas of inquiry include postcolonial studies, feminism, gender and queer studies, and the rhetorical theory of narrative.
Our primary goal is to work with literary theory in ways that genuinely expand and deepen our engagements with literature. We will build a modest body of shared literary texts so that we have a common basis for considering the affordances of particular theoretical approaches for our efforts at interpretation. We will resist the tendency to treat texts as stages for the performance of theory and instead consider literature itself as a unique form of theorizing.
This course makes use of a number of practices for substantive preparation and structured discussion, both of which students will help facilitate. We build insight collaboratively, creating room for provisional understanding while also challenging ourselves to solidify our progress. Across the semester, students will cultivate a line of independent inquiry that draws on the skills of the course but applies them in an area of their interest. These efforts will culminate in a final paper or related project.
