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Course Syllabus

Bachelor 2022/2023

Critical Theory

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type: Elective course (Philology)
Area of studies: Philology
Delivered by: Department of Philology
Where: School of Arts and Humanities
When: 3 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors: Ivan Delazari, Renata Goroshkova
Language: English
ECTS credits: 4
Contact hours: 42

Course Syllabus

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course "Critical Theory" embraces a broad variety of subjects in contemporary humanities and cultural studies. It encourages the students to reflect critically on the interrelationship between culture and imperialism, introduces them to psychoanalysis under late capitalism, and explores the theories of the post-human. In the first module the focus will be on ideological constructs, the social imaginary, and culture. In the second module the focus will be on subjectivities, the psyche, and the self.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • This course serves as an introduction to the ideas of some of the most important thinkers in the broad and dynamic field of modern “critical theory.”
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Students convey the multiplicity of perspectives available for advanced work in and beyond the humanities
  • Students develop sustainable skills in critical thinking through addressing the wide range of issues of both abstract and urgently concrete issues of contemporary life and culture
  • Students read, understand, analyze, and discuss complicated theoretical work written in English (or English translation)
  • Students who may or may not be interested in graduate-level work in Anglophone countries are sufficiently equipped for engaging in theoretically informed academic discourse
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Ideological Constructs, the Social Imaginary, Culture
  • Subjectivities, the Psyche, and the Self
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Final Examination Paper
    The examination paper is a home-written argumentative essay focusing on one or several issues covered in the course. Students are asked to write the essay during the final week of the course and submit it no later than the deadline, which is scheduled for one of the early days of the examination period.
  • non-blocking Written in-class test
    Short essay (500 – 1000 words) questions on key topics (the student can choose one of the proposed topics) from the lectures
  • non-blocking Presentations
    Students will be given a choice of topics. The presentations should demonstrate a clear understanding of the theoretical concepts involved; they should cite and analyze key passages from relevant texts; and they should offer a critical assessment. The presentation should conclude with a question (or two) addressed to the class for further discussion.
  • non-blocking Class participation
    At each seminar, students are given a question for discussion. After the teacher’s introductory remarks, they have 10 minutes to think of their answers. They take it in turns to voice their comments on the topic. Each answer may serve as a starting point for an in-depth follow-up discussion, coordinated by the course instructor, who notes down the active students and assesses their participation in due course.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 2nd module
    0.25 * Written in-class test + 0.05 * Class participation + 0.3 * Presentations + 0.35 * Final Examination Paper
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • LaCapra, D. (2013). History, Literature, Critical Theory. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=671499
  • Osborne, T. (2008). The Structure of Modern Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=515106

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Tally, R. T. (2014). Fredric Jameson : The Project of Dialectical Criticism. London, [England]: Pluto Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=798182
  • Wolfreys, J., Womack, K., & Robbins, R. (2014). Key Concepts in Literary Theory: Vol. Third edition. Edinburgh University Press.
  • Wortham, S. (2010). The Derrida Dictionary. London: Continuum. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=341723