ENGL 311 (Section 901, Schedule #33006)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Fall 2015
MW 5:30-6:45pm :: 260 Hibbs
Prof. David Golumbia
Office: 324D Hibbs Hall
Fall 2015 Office Hours: MW 2:30-3:45pm
Introduction to Literary Theory
This course offers an advanced introduction to some of the major themes and concepts in contemporary literary theory; it is intended for English majors who have some general background in literary criticism and at least some of its methods. We will read works by recent major theorists, and students will use these works to uncover some of the foundational texts on which this more recent work is built. In part we will track the deployment of key concepts in thought since at least the Ancient Greeks, including logos (λόγος), technê (τέχνη), poiesis (ποίησις), and rhetoric (Ῥητορική). This is a discussion class in which student participation is essential and a significant part of the grade. Students will be evaluated based on short written papers, midtem and final exams, and vigorous participation in class discussion.
Books (Required Texts)
The following is a list of required texts to purchase for the class. Other texts are provided on Blackboard or on direct links to websites in the Week-by-Week Syllabus below.
- Rosi Braidotti, The Posthuman (Polity, 2013)
- Jacques Derrida, Archive Fever: A Freudian Impression (University of Chicago Press, 1998)
- Benjamin Noys, Malign Velocities: Accelerationism and Capitalism (Zero Books, 2014)
- Bernard Stiegler, What Makes Life Worth Living: On Pharmacology (Polity, 2013)
- Eugene Thacker, In the Dust of This Planet: Horror of Philosophy vol. 1 (Zero Books, 2011)
Assignments and
Evaluation
Evaluation will be based on written exercises and course participation as
follows:
- Summary Papers (15% each; 30% total). Each student will write two summary papers during the term, the goal is simply to summarize the work being read for that day and try to articulate in your own words the central argument. These papers will be due according to the day's assigned reading, with a maximum of five students signed up each day. A signup sheet will be distributed during the first two weeks of the term.
Link to Summary Paper Assignment
- Background Paper (20%). Each student will write one background paper during the term. These papers will be keyed to the reading for each day. A maximum of three students will be signed up for each day. The instructor will provide guidance in terms of background figures and/or texts to explore. The idea is to read into some of the material with which the main reading for the day is engaging.
Link to Background Paper Assignment
- Midtem Exam (10%). There will be a brief midterm exam, consisting of short answer and multiple-choice questions about the course readings and ideas raised in discussion through the middle of the term.
- Final Exam (20%). There will be a final exam, consisting of short answer and multiple-choice questions about the course readings. The final exam will be comprehensive, covering the entire semester's work.
- Course Participation (20%): the instructor will assign a letter grade to each student reflecting their engaged participation in class, both online and offline, during the term.
Course-Specific Policies
- Attendance. This course is taught primarily via discussion. Your
attendance and participation are vital to its success. Attendance is taken every day. A significant
portion of your grade (20%) depends on your class participation. "Class participation" does not necessarily mean that you have said what everyone thinks is the smartest thing in the world, but has much more to do with whether other students know your name by mid-semester because you contribute to discussion regularly. More than 4 unexcused absences will
count against your final course grade. 6 unexcused absences results in
automatic failure of the course. An "excused" absence is one where you have a verifiable illness, or important commitment of which you notify the instructor beforehand, and does not count against the unexcused absence policy. An "unexcused" absence is when you do not show up for class, without verifiable explanation or approval beforehand.
- No Late Work. No late work is accepted in this class. Work handed in
late is automatically marked down one-third grade (e.g., a B becomes a B-)
for each day it is late, and after one week becomes a failing grade for
the assignment.
- Class Preparation. You are expected to have done the primary reading and
any other primary course assignments before the beginning of course each
week.
- Honor System. All work in this course is subject to the University's
Honor System. You may work in teams for some assignments, but all
written work must be solely your own, and any reliance on published
work must be properly cited.
- Evaluations. Final grades for the course will not be released until
the entire class has submitted online course evaluations.
Official VCU Policy Statements
The VCU Office of the Provost maintains a list of official policy statements for each semester. Students are required to review the list of policies in its entirety. They constitute official course policies. Among the important topics covered in this policy statement, students should note the following policy regarding email:
Students are expected to check their official VCU email on a frequent and consistent basis in order to remain informed of university-related communications. The university recommends checking email daily. Students are responsible for the consequences of not reading, in a timely fashion, university-related communications sent to their official VCU student email account.
Week-by-Week Syllabus
Week One. Introduction
Week Two. Introduction
- Mon Aug 24. No readings.
- Weds Aug 26. No readings.
Week Three. Poiesis, Technê
- Mon Aug 31. Richard Parry, "Epistêmê and Technê," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (web)
- Weds Sep 2. Hans-Robert Jauss, "Poiesis" (blackboard)
Week Four. Paolo Virno
- Mon Sep 7. No class (Labor Day)
- Weds Sep 9. Paolo Virno, "Labor, Intellect, Action" ("Day Two" of Virno, A Grammar of the Multitude) (blackboard)
Week Five. Derrida, Archive Fever
- Mon Sep 14. Archive Fever (beginning through page 81; you may also want to read the "Translator's Note," pp. 103-111, before you start)
- Weds Sep 16. Archive Fever (page 82 to end)
Week of Sep 19-27. No classes (reading period due to bicycle race)
Week Six. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, essays
- Mon Sep 28. Spivak, "Can the Subaltern Speak?"
- Weds Sep 30. Spivak, "Moving Devi"
Week Seven. Stiegler, What Makes Life Worth Living?
- Mon Oct 5. What Makes Life Worth Living? (Parts I, II, and III)
- Weds Oct 7. What Makes Life Worth Living? (Part IV)
Week Eight. Hortense Spillers, essays
- Mon Oct 12. "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: An American Grammar Book."
- Weds Oct 14. "Destiny's Child: Obama and Election '08"
Week Nine. Noys, Malign Velocities
- Mon Oct 19. Malign Velocities (beginning through Chapter 5)
- Weds Oct 21. Malign Velocities (Chapter 6 through end)
Week Ten. Lauren Berlant, essays
- Mon Oct 26. "Cruel Optimism"
- Weds Oct 28. Berlant and Michael Warner, "Sex in Public." Midterm exam.
Week Eleven. Thacker, In the Dust of This Planet
- Mon Nov 2. In the Dust of This Planet (beginning through page 97)
- Weds Nov 4. In the Dust of This Planet (page 98 - end)
Week Twelve. Sianne Ngai, essays
- Mon Nov 9. "The Cuteness of the Avant-Garde."
- Weds Nov 11. No class, instructor away.
Week Thirteen. Braidotti, The Posthuman
- Mon Nov 16. The Posthuman (beginning through Chapter 3)
- Weds Nov 18. The Posthuman (Chapter 4 - end)
Week Fourteen. Heather Love, essays
- Mon Nov 23. Virtual class (in discussion thread on Blackboard). "Truth and Consequences"
- Weds Nov 25. No class (Thanksgiving break)
Week Fifteen. Open discussion
- Mon Nov 30. Open discussion.
- Weds Dec 2. No class, instructor away.
There is a final exam for the course, at 5:30-6:45pm on Weds, Dec 9, per the registrar's e xam schedule.
Last updated November 18, 2015.