CRT6010

Critical Theory: An Approach (12 points)

(ARTS)

Leader: Andrew Benjamin

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2004 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis:

Objectives: 1. To gain a close and full knowledge of two central writers of prose fiction in the twentieth century, Franz Kafka and Maurice Blanchot. 2. To gain an awareness of the main lines of critical debate surrounding these works. 3. To master the basic arguments pertaining to the problematic of negativity (roughly: Hegel, Kojeve, Adorno, Bataille). 4. To develop skills in evaluating different readings of these writers, especially Blanchot's account of Kafka. 5. To write coherently, economically and rigorously on both the literary and critical texts.

Assessment: Two essays (4500 words each): 100%

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week