ENG 3340 - CRITICAL THEORY AND CULTURAL STUDES

credits: 3.0
Crosslisted/Same As: MCD 3340
ENG 3340-MCD 3340. Will introduce students to contemporary critical theory, a dynamic academic field that provides a rich variety of interdisciplinary approaches to the study of literature, mass media, economics, the environment, and cultural studies in general. Critical theory is particularly influential in the humanities and social sciences. It typically interrogates the common sense of our time, critiquing prevailing ideologies and the institutions that promulgate them. In doing so, it seeks not only to understand the world, but to change it for the better. Its concerns are typically global in reach, and they embrace a wide variety of media and practices, regardless of their perceived status. Students will be introduced to several major critical approaches, including Gender Studies, Psychological Criticism, Postcolonial Studies, Ecocriticism, Media Studies, Cultural Economy, and Race and Ethnicity Studies. They will learn the key concepts, vocabulary, and techniques of these approaches, and they will hone their skills at applying them to our contemporary world. Objectives: A) Identify major figures associated with several major critical approaches; B) Describe key concepts, vocabulary, and techniques of several major critical approaches; C) Apply critical approaches to a variety of media; D) Utilize critical approaches to interpret and evaluate a variety of media; E) Communicate course objectives effectively in writing. Method of Instruction: Lecture, discussion, and classroom activities. Method of Evaluation: Essay one 20 pts; Essay two 25 pts; Essay three 35 pts; and Theory Journal 20 pts. Meets *WEP and *WRT Distribution Requirements.