CLS4100

Deleuze and Foucault

Elizabeth Grosz

12 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton
* Prohibitions: CRT4100

Objectives To introduce students to the concepts and texts developed by Foucault and Deleuze (in collaboration with Guattari); to provide various methods for reading their selected writings in detail; to provide resources by which to critically assess their contributions and to devise new positions based on their writings; and to provide the critical and expressive resources to enable students to write clear, concise, accurate and independent essays on topics related to this reading

Synopsis The subject aims to introduce students to a careful reading of selected texts of two recent French philosophers - Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze - who have singly and jointly theorised the nexus between desire and power. The subject is divided into three parts. (1) The common cultural and theoretical background of French philosophy in the twentieth century (through vitalism, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, psychoanalysis and Marxism) will be briefly surveyed to contextualise the writings of Foucault and Deleuze. (2) The last writings of Foucault, those he describes as `genealogy', his writings on prisons and disciplinary power, and his writings on the history of sexuality will be critically explored. (3) Deleuze's `rhizomatic writings', concentrating on Nietzsche, Sacher von Masoch and A thousand plateaus, will be examined.

Assessment One essay (9000 words): 100%
* Or two essays (4500 words each): 50% each

Recommended reading

Descombes V Modern French philosophy
Foucault M Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison
Foucault M The history of sexuality vols 1- 3
Gordon C (ed.) Knowledge/Power
Deleuze G Nietzsche and philosophy
Deleuze G Masochism, coldness and cruelty
Deleuze G and Guattari F A thousand plateaus