Fall 2017 - ENGL 216 E100

History and Principles of Literary Criticism (3)

Class Number: 5474

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Mon, 6:30–8:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 12, 2017
    Tue, 5:30–5:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Two 100 division English courses.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The study of selected works in the history of literary criticism, up to and including modern and contemporary movements in criticism.

COURSE DETAILS:

Cultural Studies has arguably become the dominant mode of critical theory; it has the capacity to contain most, though not all, other theoretical modes—psychoanalytic theory, structuralism/poststructuralism, modernism/postmodernism, postcolonialism, feminism/queer theory—and directs its attention to the great preoccupation of our day: popular culture as site of political struggle.

Every week will consist of a three-hour class in which the first hour is a lecture on the theory of the day. For each week, we will look at an object of popular culture: movie, song, music video, television episode, or the like. All these secondary texts will be either free online or easily obtainable for a small cost. The remaining two hours are open discussion and/or time to workshop ideas for assignments. You, the students, will be doing the talking for at least half the course.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course will use cultural studies as the organizing principle of a study of critical theory. The goal is to give students a broad sense of theory in general, including its biases and historical origins, and the ability to both select and apply a given body of theory to an object of study such as a book, poem, movie, video game, or the like.

Grading

  • Participation 15%
  • Reading Quizzes 10%
  • Essay #1: Analysis (1500 words) 10%
  • Annotated Bibliography (10 sources) 10%
  • Essay #2: Research Paper (2500 words) 20%
  • Presentation (10 minutes) 15%
  • Final Exam (48-hour, at-home essay) 20%

NOTES:

Schedule of Readings
Week 1: Introduction to the Course
Week 2: Chapter 3: Culturalism
Week 3: Chapter 4: Marxisms AND Essay #1 Due
Week 4: Chapter 5: Psychoanalysis
Week 5: Chapter 6: Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
Week 6: Chapter 7: Gender and Sexuality AND Annotated Bibliography Due
Week 7: Chapter 8: ‘Race,’ Racism, and Representation
Week 8: Chapter 9: Postmodernism
Week 9: Chapter 10: Politics of the Popular AND Essay #2 Due
Week 10: Presentations
Week 11: Presentations
Week 12: Presentations
Week 13: Review for Final Exam

REQUIREMENTS:

The course will have four assignments. Essay #1 will force you to thoroughly understand one theory or two related theories; the annotated bibliography prepares you for Essay #2 in which you will apply your theory from Essay #1. Finally, you will present your argument from Essay #2 to the class. There will be a take-home final exam. In addition, there will be a 15% participation grade and a series of unannounced reading quizzes worth 10% of your grade.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction, 7th Edition
ISBN: 1138811033

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS