Amst 513: THEORY AND METHOD IN INTERDISCIPLINARY CULTURAL STUDIES
Instructor:
Prof. T.V. Reed, American Studies, Washington State University
Course Info: American Studies 513 (Spring 2002)
Room: College 138 Day/Time: TTh 1:25-2:40
Instructor's Office: Wilson 104
Office Hours: Th & Fr 10:30-12 and other times
by appt. at x5-1560
COURSE DESCRIPTION ** REQUIRED
TEXTS ** ASSIGNMENTS **
READING SCHEDULE: [WEEK
1-5 Jan 15 +] [WEEK 6-9 Feb 19 +] [WEEK
10-15 Mar 26+ ]
WEB
RESOURCE
The companion
Website to this course is:
"Theory
and Method in America/Cultural Studies: A Bibilographic Essay"
[http://www.wsu.edu/~amerstu/tm/bib.html]
COURSE DESCRIPTION
"Theory is
the sound made by the shifting ice floes of academic disciplines, breaking up
or grinding against one another."
-- Stefan Collini
"Theory is
the name for the questions that arise when the answers we have about a topic no
longer seem adequate to our understanding."
-- Gerald Graff
"In order
to do interdisciplinary work, it is not enough to take a 'subject' (a theme)
and arrange two or three disciplines around it. Interdisciplinary study
consists in creating a new object, which belongs to no one. "
-- Roland Barthes
"If theory
is taken to mean an intellectual framework, a problematic, that, by the form of
its questions even more than the content of its answers, defines a certain
intellectual terrain, then all thought is theoretical. The proposition is
indeed tautological, since a theory or intellectual problematic is not that
which merely shapes or contains thought (as though the latter somehow possessed
an unshaped, uncontained earlier existence) but that which gives rise to the
possibility of thought in the first place. It may be added that few theories
are more narrow and dogmatic than those (like Anglo-American 'common sense')
that remain oblivious or even hostile to their status as theories."
-- Carl Freedman
"The only
theory worth having is that which you have to fight off, not that which you
speak with profound fluency."
--Stuart Hall
"By
reinforcing the idea that there is a split between theory and practice or by
creating such a split, [we] deny the power of liberatory education for critical
consciousness, thereby perpetuating conditions that reinforce our collective
exploitation and repression."
--bell hooks
The aim of this course is to introduce
(or reintroduce) graduate students to some of the major theories and methods
currently practiced in American studies and related interdisciplines, such as
ethnic, cultural, women's and queer studies. The course is organized along two
overlapping axes: 1) we will examine key concepts, including
"culture," "race," "ethnicity,"
"formation," "class," "hegemony," "gender,"
"sexuality" and "imperialism"; and 2) we will discuss
various elaborated theoretical positions, including
race/ethnicity theories, marxisms, feminisms, post-structuralisms, queer, and post-colonial
theories. While for purposes of analysis we will at times isolate these
concepts and theories from one another, much of our work will emphasize
conceptual and theoretical intersections.Throughout the course but especially
in the second half, grand questions of theory and method will be grounded via
examination of applied scholarship on U.S. culture.
The instructor takes the position that
theorizing is an inherently political activity. Hence the choice of topical
questions is built around what the instructor feels are key issues facing U.S.
culture: racism, sexism, homophobia, class oppression and imperialism. But the
topics list is not, as the Right would have it, a politically correct list to
reinforce existing views. Rather it is a set of questions to be seriously
explored. This is obviously not the only possible set of questions, and the
instrutor hopes and expects to have this list challenged by the other
particpants in the seminar.
Such a quick survey cannot hope to do
justice to these complex theories, so the goal is to provide the tools to
increase your literacy in reading theory and lay the groundwork for further
study. The syllabus is a negotiable outline. We may add, subtract or otherwise
change readings and topics as the interests and needs of the participants
become clearer.
REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS are available for students who have a documented disability.
Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations
needed for this course. Late notification may cause the requested
accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through
the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Administration Annex 206, 335-1566.
REQUIREMENTS
Grading for the course will be based on the following:
1. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SEMINAR DISCUSSIONS. This is
a discussion class, with only occasional mini-lectures as requested. Active
participation in discussions is part of the commitment one makes in joining the
class community. [20%]
2. WEBSITE REVIEW of the "Theory and Method"
web pages. Choose one of the sections (or one subsection of the "Race,
Gender, and Sexuality" page), familiarize yourself with the citations;
analyze the inclusions and exclusions; suggest additions with annotations; and
suggest changes to the section intro and/or annotations to make the site more
user-friendly and effective. Suggestions for other changes to the site,
including reorganized or new sections, new links, better navigation, or other
possibilities for improving the site are also welcome. [10%]
DUE ON JAN 29th
3. CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW of an assigned book, written for
a particular scholarly journal and emphasizing questions of theory and
method. Reviews should be
approximately 4 typed, double-spaced pages. Eligible books are those by Lee,
Howard, Singer, Warrior, or McAlister. Reviews are due by the second session we
discuss the book in class. [15%]
4. SEMINAR FACILITATION Each of you will serve as
facilitator of the discussion for two or three sessions over the course of the
semester. This entails reading the pieces assigned on those days with special
care, doing some contextualizing research as needed, and serving as resident
expert that day for the texts in question. Preparation will also include
writing up and e-mailing to all class members discussion questions on the
reading at least two days before the discussion. [15%]
5. SEMINAR PAPER
a) analyzing a theoretical issue that interests you; OR
b) applying theories and methods drawn from class readings to a text or topic
that interests you ; OR
c) offering a draft theoretical introduction to a thesis or topic you are
working on; OR
d) "translating" (bell hooks' term) the most useful ideas of the
"academic" theory we read this semester for a specific, non-academic
audience (union organizers, high school students, etc.), and for use on the
"Theory and Method" website. Approximately 12-20 pp. [40%]
DUE ON MAY 9th
COURSE
TEXTS
All required texts are
available in the Bookie.
Course Packet of Xeroxed Articles [Abbr. (X)]
Lipsitz, George. American Studies in a Moment
of Danger [Abbrev: (ASMD)]
Maddox, Lucy, ed. Locating American
Studies [Abbrev: (LAS)]
Singh, Amritjit and Peter Schmidt, eds. Postcolonial
Theory and the U.S. [Abbrev: (PTUS)]
Warrior, Robert. Tribal Secrets:
Recovering American Indian Intellectual Traditions
Singer, Beverly R. Wiping the War Paint
Off the Lens
Turner, William B. A Genealogy of Queer
Theory
Howard, John. Men Like That: A Southern
Queer History
Lee, Robert G. Orientals: Asian
Americans in Popular Culture
McAlister, Melani. Epic Encounters
Culture, Media, and U.S. Interests in the Middle East
COURSE
OUTLINE & WEEKLY READING SCHEDULE
Abbreviations:
(X) for Course Packet; (O) for
online reading; (LAS) for Locating American Studies; (ASMD) for American Studies in a Moment of Danger; (PTUS) for Postcolonial Theory and the United
States.
WEEK 1: T Jan 15 -- Introductions; Setting
Our Preliminary Course Agenda
Th Jan 17 -- What is Theory & Why
Should We Theorize?
READINGS: C. Lemert,
"Social Theory: Its Uses and Pleasures" (X)
b. hooks, "Theory as Liberatory Practive" (X)
T. Reed, "Theory and Method in American/Cultural
Studies " (O)
WEEK 2: T Jan 22 - On
the Genealogy of American Studies
READINGS: G. Wise,
"'Paradigm Dramas' in American Studies" (LAS)
G. Lipsitz, chps. 1-3 (ASMD)
Th Jan 24 -- On the Genealogy and Future of
American Cultural Studies
READINGS: G. Lipsitz,
chps. 4 and 12 (ASMD)
J. Radway, "What's In a Name?"(ASA presidential
address) (O)
FURTHER READING on the history of American Studies
WEEK 3: T Jan 29 --
Questions of Political Economy, Class & Hegemony (Marxisms)
READINGS: K. Marx,
selected excerpts (X)
M. Denning, "'Special American Conditions': Marxism and American
Studies" (X)
J.P. Surber, "The Materialist Critique of Culture" (X)
Th Jan 31 -- Further Questions of Political
Economy, Class & Hegemony
READINGS: A. Gramsci,
"Hegemony, Intellectuals, and the State" (X)
T. J. J. Lears, "The Concept of Cultural Hegemony" (X)
L. Althusser, "Ideology and the Ideological State Apparatuses" (X)
S. Hall, "The Problem of Ideology: Marxism without Guarantees" (X)
FURTHER READING on Marxist
Theories
WEEK 4: T Feb 5 --
Questions of Race/Ethnicity (Racial Theories)
READINGS: M. Omi
& H. Winant, from Racial Formation in the United States(X)
E. San Juan, Jr., from Racial Formations, Critical Transformations(X)
Th Feb 7 - Further Questions of
Race/Ethnicity
READINGS: R.
Perez-Torres, "Refiguring Atzlan" (PTUS)
S. Hall, "Gramsci's Relevance for the Study of Race and Ethnicity"
(X)
J. Flores, "Broken English Memories" (PTUS)
L. Majaj, "Arab Americans and the Meaning of Race" (PTUS)
FURTHER READING on Race/Ethnicity Theories
WEEK 5: T Feb 12 --
Questions of Gender
READINGS: W. Kolmar
and F. Bartkowski, eds., from Feminist Theory (X)
essays by Welter, Kerber, Baym and Radway (LAS)
Th Feb 14 -- Further Questions of Gender
READINGS: essays by Anzaldua, Scott, Mohanty,
Haraway, Sandoval (X)
FURTHER READING on Gender
Theories
Th Feb 21 - More Post-structural Questions
READINGS: M.
Foucault, selected excerpts (X)
J. Scott, "Deconstructing Equality vs. Difference"
FURTHER READING on Post-structuralist
& Postmodern Theories
WEEK 7: T Feb 26 --
Que(e)ries for Theories (Lesbian/Gay//Queer Theories)
READINGS: W. Turner, A
Genealogy of Queer Theory 1-82
FURTHER
READING on Lesbian/Gay/Queer Theories
WEEK 8: T Mar 5 --
Queering the South
READINGS J. Howard, Men Like That
Th Mar 7 -- More Southern Queering
READINGS: J. Howard, Men
Like That
K. Floyd, "Making History: Marxism, Queer Theory and Contradictions in the
Future of American Studies" (X)
WEEK 9: T Mar 13 --
Questions of Imperialism/Colonialism (Anti-/Post-colonial Theories)
READINGS: A. Singh
and P. Schmidt, "On the Borders Between U.S. Studies and Postcolonial
Theory," (PTUS)
A. Kaplan, "Left Alone with America: Absence of Empire in the Study of
American Culture" (X)
Th Mar 14 - (Post)Colonial United States
Studies?
READINGS:A.
Kaplan, "Romancing the Empire" (PTUS)
B. Simon, "Hybridity in the Americas" (PTUS)
I. Salazar, "Can You Go Home Again?: Transgression and Transformation in
African American Women's and Chicana Literary Practice" (PTUS)
FURTHER
READING on Anti-/Post-colonial
Theories
Spring Break: Mar 18-22
WEEK 10: T Mar 26 - Native/American Indians, Colonialism
and Tribal Secrets
READINGS: R. Warrior, Tribal Secrets
Th
Mar 28 - More Secrets, More (post)Colonialism
READINGS: R. Warrior, Tribal Secrets
A. Krupat, "Postcolonialism, Ideology and Native American Literature"
(PTUS)
WEEK 11: T Apr 2 - Wiping the Warpaint off the Lenses of
Theory
READINGS: B. Singer, Wiping the Warpaint Off the Lens: Native
American Film
Th
Apr 4 - Literacy, Literature, and Indian (post)Colonialism
READINGS: J. Sequoya Magdeleno, "How(!) Is an Indian?"
(PTUS)
M. Konkle, "Indian Literature, U.S. Colonialism, and Literary
Crticism" (PTUS)
WEEK 12: T Apr 9 - Confronting American Orientalisms
READINGS: R. Lee, Orientals:
Asian Americans in Popular Culure
S.C. Wong, "Denationalization Reconsidered" (PTUS)
Th
Apr 11 - No class
WEEK 13: T Apr 16 - More Orientalism, More Resistance
READINGS : R. Lee, Orientals: Asian Americans in Popular
Culure
K. Wong, "The Transformation of Culture: Three Chinese Views" (LAS)
Apr
18 -- No class session: Pacific Northwest ASA conference
WEEK 14: T Apr 23 - Epic Encounters with Race, Class,
Gender, Sex & Empire
READINGS: M.
McAlister, Epic Encounters
Th
Apr 25 - More Epic Encounters
READINGS M. McAlister, Epic Encounters
WEEK 15: Papers in progress discussion & course
conclusion(s)