ENG 295-03 - Special Topic: From “Theory” to “Post-Theory”

1 credits (Fall)

While literature and culture have been theorized upon from time immemorial , what is generally considered as ‘Literary Theory’ is surely a specific phenomenon that was consolidated in the second half of the 20th century. While ‘Literary Theory’ has indeed proved very influential in our recent understandings of literature and culture, does it continue to be the final word regarding the same? Or, are some of the basic postulates of ‘Theory’ being progressively questioned in contemporary thought to lead to what can be called ‘Post-Theoretical’ possibilities? This short course aims to explore these very questions, and in doing so, it intends to probe into the conditions that led to the genesis of ‘Literary Theory’, examine its primary postulates through a study of its various ramifications, explore specifically some problems that would have arisen in the course of its articulations, and indicate new directions in which current thinkings about literature and culture try to address these issues. The course intends to perform this journey from ‘Theory’ to ‘Post-Theory’ through an intensive study of some major thinkers – ranging from the late 19th century to our present times – who dot this extremely stimulating intellectual horizon.

Prerequisite: ENG 120 or a literature course taken in another language at Grinnell.
Note: Dates: October 29 to November 14. Short course deadlines apply.
Instructor: Bhaduri