Introduces students to a wide range of critical theories that English majors need to know. Covers major movements in modern literary/critical theory, from Matthew Arnold through new criticism to ...

What do myths, memes, and novels have in common? Structure. In this video, we explore the core ideas of structuralism and semiotics, guided by the work of Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, and Barthes. From ...

It has held sway in the humanities for nearly four decades, surviving even the great culture wars. But it is being used in surprising ways. Either literary theory is dead, or it’s invincible. It all ...

Since structuralism in literary studies is largely of French origin, let this attempt to ruin its reputation have as its motto the words of a Frenchman, Pierre Bertaux: At one time it was hoped that ...

In “Goodbye, Mr. Keating” (Careers, July 7), Thomas H. Benton asserts that the academic study of literature is, or has become, incompatible with the love of literature that attracts so many students ...

Everyone knows the myth of the mechanical servant, such as the sorcerer’s apprentice, Frankenstein’s monster, or the golem. These servants are stronger than any human being, but it is difficult to ...

Fredric Jameson, who died this week at age 90, was one of the last high theorists still standing. A key figure in the development of Marxist criticism, postmodernism and cultural theory, his works ...

Books can be complicated, and the culture surrounding literature and its various theories and ideas can even trip up Ph.Ds and Gaddis-quoting Brooklynites. Sometimes, though, you need a little ...

This course introduces students to a wide range of critical theories that English majors need to know. We’ll begin with some basic questions about literary texts: How can we understand documents from ...