Critical Theory (A)

This course is intended to introduce students to (1) the idea of critical, literary, and cultural theories; (2) the discourse surrounding them about their necessity, relevance, significance, and/or redundancy; and (3) the various critical theories and practices in circulation in our contemporary academic discourse as well as the problems and problematics attached to them. Rather than departing from the different theories separately, we will look into particular critical issues and terms and see how various texts define and respond to them.

Before we delve into the depths and labyrinth of critical theory, literary and cultural theories, literary and cultural criticism and what not, let us establish certain basic questions that we will need to deal with:

What do we talk about when we say "theory"? How is it different from other terms such as methodology, method, approach, perspective, and other vague concepts? Is theory a set of instructions in executing a particular task, craft, or project?