This course focuses on current trends in literary theory. Our overall goal is to explore both the philosophical as well as the socio-political dimension of theoretical paradigms such as structuralism, postmodernism, deconstruction, post-colonialism, psychoanalysis, feminism, Marxism, 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 from which they emerged. Examining that context, then, is an essential part for understanding literary and aesthetic theory in general. Rather than dismissing a particular critical approach as “unrealistic” or “outdated,” it is far more productive to assess its strength and weaknesses within and beyond their immediate historical context. This approach will improve your understanding of whatever theory you will find most useful for your own work. The course begins with a brief discussion of the “linguistic turn” in 20th century theory. Thereafter, each session is dedicated to a particular field of theory and explores texts by 2-3 authors included in The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.