Studies in Critical Theory: Introduction to Digital Humanities

This course introduces students to current trends in literary and cultural theory. Our overall goal is to explore both the philosophical and socio-political dimension of theoretical paradigms such as Marxism, structuralism, deconstruction, post-colonialism, feminism, network theory, reader response, etc. Two critical premises will guide our discussion: first, the belief that there is no “meta-theory” able to account for all the insights fashioned by the different approaches to literary and cultural production. The second premise holds that theories do not just emerge out of a socio-historical vacuum but always carry within themselves traces of the particular context in which they emerge. Examining that context, then, is an essential part for understanding theory in general. Rather than dismissing a particular critical approach as “unrealistic” or “outdated,” it is more productive to assess its strength and weaknesses within and beyond the historical context during which it emerged. This approach will help you to become more familiar with whatever theory you will find most useful for your own work. We will use two books only: 

• Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide by Lois Tyson, 4th ed. (London and New York: Routledge, 2023). ISBN-13: ‎978-0367709426
• F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, ed. David Alworth (New York: Norton, 2021). ISBN-13: ‎978-0393656596