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Identity and Difference
COL306 SP

Crosslistings: GERM313,WMST306

This is one of a series of courses intended to introduce students to a variety of contemporary critical theories and discourses. These will include, but not be restricted to, recent Marxian, psychoanalytic and feminist interpretations as well as relevant philosophical, anthropological and narratological approaches. Our focus will be on the critical questions of identity and difference, their definitions and critical functions in various contexts. Texts will be read for their explicit and implici t agendas, and the advantages and limitations of various approaches will be critically discussed. This process should lay the groundwork for a thoughtful investigation of cross or multicultural issues within societies and disciplines, thus contributing d irectly to a possible interpretive resolution of the current debate over boundaries of self and society.

MAJOR READINGS

Major readings will include, among others selected texts by Freud, Heidegger, Lacan, Irigaray, Kristeva, M. Douglas, Bakhtin, M.C. Taylor, J. Clifford, A. Gorz.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two to three critical essays of 6-8 pages each

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA COL    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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