University of Central Florida PHI 4804 Critical Theory

Critical theory, broadly understood, refers to contemporary interdisciplinary cultural interpretation and critique. We will first address the question of how to understand or "read" culture. Secondly, we will consider a variety of related approaches which re-assess cultural notions of meaning, identity, power, representation, production and consumption. The goal will be to give students a set of tools to critically understand and participate in contemporary culture.

Required Texts:

1. Milner, Andrew and Jeff Browitt. Contemporary Cultural Theory: An Introduction, 3rd Edition. Routledge, 2002.
2. Nealon, Jeffrey T. and Susan Searls Giroux. The Theory Toolbox: Critical Concepts for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (Culture and Politics Series). Rowman and Littlefield, 2003.
3. Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics for Beginners, online version. http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html
4. Web-based readings and resources, as assigned in class.

Recommended Text:

1. Cavallaro, Dani. Critical and Cultural Theory. Athlone Press, 2001.

Requirements:

1. Concept Application (20% of final grade)
2. Final Project (30% of final grade)
3. Midterm (20% of final grade)
4. Final Exam (30% of final grade)

1. Concept Application (20% of final grade; due Tuesday Oct. 3. Length: 1500 words): There will be a website in class that lists several key concepts in critical theory. Choose one of those concepts, and apply it to a contemporary reading of some cultural phenomenon or experience. In other words, I would like you to analyze some contemporary cultural experience or phenomenon (movie, TV show, art exhibition, cultural phenomenon, event or practice, or political, social, or religious institution, etc.) in terms of a specific concept described in the book. You will need to do some reading on the concept beyond what is given in the book.

2. Final Project (30% of final grade; Prospectus due Nov. 2; Paper due Nov. 28. Length: 2500-3000 words): I will need to see a prospectus for this project. A prospectus describes the project you plan on doing, and the resources you will use to accomplish the task. The final project itself is most likely a thesis defense paper, in which you assess and critique a concept or a text that has been significant in the course. I say "most likely" because I am open to other creative variations on a project. All projects, though, have to show a good grasp of the course material and the ability to critically reflect on both the material and on contemporary culture.

3. Midterm (20% of final grade; on Thursday, Oct. 12): It will cover everything we've done since the beginning of the course, including classes, web-based material, and readings. You will not be able to do well on the midterm if you have missed a significant number of classes and/or have not done your readings. I will also likely have questions on it that ask you to critically analyze some feature of culture using the tools we've developed.

4. Take Home Final Exam (30% of final grade, due on or before the final exam date, Thursday Dec. 7, 4:00 p.m., in my office or the classroom): Same basic format as the midterm, covering the whole course. DO NOT EMAIL THIS EXAM - HARD COPY ONLY.


Grade Distribution: I will record the assignment grades based on the percentage of the course grade during the term (that is, the midterm will be recorded as a grade out of 20, although it may be marked out of another number). The letter grade will be calculated only at the end of the course, based on full course grade. The distribution will be as follows:

Schedule: Critical Theory

Readings: M&B = Milner & Browitt, Contemporary Cultural Theory, 3rd Edition; N&G = Nealon & Giroux, The Theory Toolbox; Chandler = Daniel Chandler, Semiotics for Beginners. WEB = Course Website

1. Introduction (August 22, 24, 29, 31)

• Reading: M&B: Chapters 1, 2; N&G: Chapters 1, 2

2. Reading Culture (September 5, 7; 12, 14; 19, 21; 26, 28; Oct. 3, 5)

• Reading: M&B: Chapter 4; N&G: Chapters 3-6; Chandler
• Concept Application Assignment Due Oct. 3.

3. Review and Midterm (October 10, 12)

• Midterm on Oct. 12.

4. Frankfurt School: Culture and Politics (October 17, 19; 24, 26)

• Reading: M&B: Chapter 3

5. Sites of Cultural Critique: Gender, Race, Class, Sexual Orientation (Oct. 31, Nov. 2)

• Reading: M&B: Chapter 5; N&G Chapters 10-11
• Prospectus for Final Assignment Due Nov. 2

6. Cultural Production & the Place of Technology (November 7, 9)

• Reading: N&G: Chapters 7-8

7. Contemporary Critical Theory: Traditionalism, Modernism and Postmodernism (November 14, 16)

• Reading: M&B: Chapters 6; N&G: Chapter 9

8. Cultural Resistance (Nov. 23, 28)

• Reading: M&B: Chapters 7
• Final Paper Due Nov. 28

9. Wrap up (Nov. 30)

The Fine (but Important) Print