CRITICAL PRACTICES Winter 1999 Professor Claire Garcia
J. Alden Weir, "The Open Book" 1891
This course is an introduction to the critical issues raised by reading literary texts. We will
examine the methods, assumptions, and basic concepts of some of the major contemporary
critical approaches to literature through a discussion of literary texts and many analytic and
reflective essays. We will entertain responses to the three fundamental questions of literary
study: "Why do we read?" "How do we read?" "Which texts do we value, and why?" The
reading and assignment load for this class is very heavy-expect to spend, on average, 3
hours a day OUTSIDE of class on work for this class. If you have a major commitment-a
winter sport, a play, a job-you may want to consider taking this class at another time.
WORK
Two papers, a group oral presentation, and a final written exam. I will also assign brief
essays and informal oral presentations to groups or individuals which will provide the basis
for class discussion and be considered part of your class participation grade.
CONVERSATION
My office hours are Wednesday mornings from 9-11 and by appointment. My office is
located in Armstrong 254. I welcome questions, comments, and feedback on the class
through e-mail, which I check several times a day. My e-mail address is
cgarcia@coloradocollege.edu (NO UNDERSCORE!) E-mail will serve as the primary
means by which I communicate with you outside of class. ALL STUDENTS in the class
must have an e-mail account, and be committed to checking it daily over the course of the
block.
Elihu Vedder, "The Recording Angel" 1883-1884
EVALUATION
Your final grade for this class will be determined by the following components: first paper (20%), second paper (20%), oral presentation (20%-everyone in the group earns the same grade), final exam (30%), class participation (10%). Unexcused absences will negatively affect your final grade-I deduct a half-grade increment for each unexcused absence. Students who are reported as not showing up for out-of-class meetings for group projects will be recorded as committing an unexcused absence. Papers receiving a grade of no credit may be rewritten for another grade (rewrites are due on the last day of the block). Only NO CREDIT papers may be rewritten. Failure to pass two or more components of the class will result in a "No Credit" for the class, regardless of your grades in the other components of the class. The components of the class are: first paper, second paper, oral presentation, class participation (including assigned, informal papers and discussion leadership) and the final exam.
HONOR CODE
I expect all students to adhere to the letter and the spirit of The Colorado College Honor Code.
CLASS MEETINGS
Daily, 9:30-12:30, except where noted.
Mark Tansey, "Columbus Discovers Spain" 1995
REQUIRED TEXTS
Photocopy Packet from English Office
Conrad, The Secret Sharer (BEDFORD EDITION ONLY!)
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Melville, Billy Budd and Other Stories
Tyson, Critical Theory Today
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Please read the assignments in the order specified in the descriptions of classwork for each day. Small group assignments and the major assignment on Benito Cereno may be given to you orally or on a separate sheet of paper. You may find the readings which are mot identified as "Ryan," "Tyson," "Conrad," "Fitzgerald," or "Melville" in your photocopy packet.
WEEK ONE
Monday: Introductions
Tuesday: In the photocopy packet, Vendler, Graff, hooks, Ohmann and small group assignments.
Wednesday: Off to read Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby ENTIRE
Thursday: New Criticism and Other Formalisms. Tyson, Chapter 5: "New Criticism"; Rivkin and Ryan, "Introduction: "Formalisms"; Brooks, "The Formalist Critics" and "The Language of Paradox."
Friday: New Criticism and Formalism continued. Tyson, Chapter 7: "Structuralist Criticism"; Culler, "Linguistic Foundation"; de Saussure, " Course in General Linguistics"; and Levi-Strauss, "The Structural Study of Myth."
WEEK TWO
Monday: Psychoanalytic Criticism. Tyson, Chapter 2: "Psychoanalytic Criticism"; Rivkin and Ryan, "Introduction: Strangers to Ourselves"; Freud, "The Interpretation of Dreams" and "The Uncanny"
Tuesday: Psychoanalytic Criticism. Lacan, "The Mirror Stage as Formative of the Function of the I as Revealed in Psychoanalytic Experience"; Poe, "The Purloined Letter" and Lacan, "Seminar on 'The Purloined Letter." Poe, "The Purloined Letter"
Wednesday: OFF TO READ. PAPER DUE 6 PM.
Thursday: New Historicism and Cultural Criticism. Tyson, Chapter 9: "New Historical and Cultural Criticism"; Rivkin and Ryan, "Introduction: The Politics of Culture" and Hall, "The Rediscovery of Ideology"
Friday: Feminism. Tyson, Chapter 4: "Feminist Criticism"; Rivkin and Ryan, "Feminist Paradigms"; Fetterly, "On the Politics of Literature" and Gilbert and Gubar, "The Madwoman in the Attic "; AFTERNOON CLASS TODAY 1-3 Library Class to prepare for Cereno project. Attendance REQUIRED.
WEEK THREE
Monday: Deconstruction, Post-Structuralism, and Post-Modernism. Tyson, Chapter 8: "Deconstructive Criticism"; Rivkin and Ryan, "Introduction: The Class of 1968-Post-structuralism par lui-meme"; Heidegger, "Being and Time " and "Identity and Difference "; Derrida, "Differance" and Foucault, "The Archaeology of Knowledge."
Tuesday: Deconstruction, Post-Structuralism, and Post-Modernism continued.
Wednesday: OFF TO READ
Thursday: Conrad, The Secret Sharer (ENTIRE) , "Introduction," "A Critical History of The Secret Sharer" and readings for your assigned critical approach. SECRET SHARER PAPER DUE 6 PM.
Friday: OFF TO WORK ON BENITO CERENO PROJECTS.
WEEK FOUR
Monday: Oral Presentations on Melville's Benito Cereno.
Tuesday: Oral Presentations on Melville's Benito Cereno continued.
Wednesday: Final Exam 9-12.