The aim of this course is to offer students an understanding of the philosophical, intellectual, and cultural history of the New Criticism. The course ranges roughly from around 1930 until today. Broadly defined, the New Criticism is a formalist movement in literary theory. It underlines interpreting a text in isolation, concentrating solely on the text’s language, structure, and form instead of external context, such as authorial intent or historical, political, and biographical backgrounds. In this course, we will read intellectual and cultural historians’ works on the New Criticism as well as selections from important figures of New Criticism. Particular attention will be given to historical links between New Criticism, democratic engagement, and the history of higher education. A secondary aim of this course is the transformation of the class into an editorial team that collectively discusses and writes on the history of New Criticism. In a class session, all students are acquired to: (1) submit two short texts (8,000 characters each); (2) comment on texts of their peers.
- verantwortliche Lehrperson: Gregory Jones-Katz