CRT5830 - Popular culture and ethics

Leader(s): Millicent Vladiv-Glover

Offered

Sunway Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The course will model ethics through an investigation of M Bakhtin's version of structuralism, in particular his work on the philosophy of the act, in the context of poststructural critical theory. The concept of alterity will be investigated through additional theoretical and literary texts, notably E Levinas' Ethique et infinite, J-L Nancy's theory of community, G Deleuze's philosophy of action and A Badiou's 'objectless subject.' These theoretical materials will be used to construct a model of ethics through which to analyse and critique literary, visual and popular culture texts as well as theoretical approaches to the 'culture industry.'

Objectives

As for CRT4830, with the added objective that fifth year students will draw on the Modernist manifestoes of art (Tolstoy, Benjamin, Heidegger, Adorno) to construct a model of popular culture ethics.

Assessment

Class paper (1,500 words): 20%;

Research paper (prepares for publication) (8,000 words): 80%;

or Two Essays (4,000 words each): 80%

Contact hours

One two-hour seminar

Prohibitions

CLS4835 and CRT4830