Studies in Literary Theory & Criticism (481-0-21)

Instructors

James Joseph Hodge
847 4915675
University Hall Room 408

Meeting Info

University Library 5322: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

How do media impact our sense of such fundamental concepts as personhood, time and space, and social life? How do new technologies transform sensory experience at different moments in history? This course provides an introduction to the field of theoretical writings within the humanities addressing the nature of media and the role of technology in twentieth- and twenty-first century western cultures. The course will be divided roughly into two halves: one portion devoted to foundational texts (Benjamin, McLuhan, Haraway) and to key terms (media, mediation, cyborg, digital, networks, etc.); and a second portion attentive to more contemporary work. Throughout our task will be to grasp these texts on their own terms, to put them into conversation with other texts and contexts, and to trace their relation to other texts in media theory and beyond. Requirements will include a short presentation, a shorter paper, and a longer one.

Class Materials (Required)

Textbooks may include: Louise Amoore, Cloud Ethics Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man Paul Preciado, Testo Junkie Armond Towns, On Black Media Philosophy.

Class Notes

Note: This course is combined with COMM_ST and ART HIST