Intersession 2017, WinterGilman 400 Taught by Dr. Maya Nitis
Jan. 17-27, MWTH 1-3.30 Course:AS.211.303.22
Not Understanding: Theory
This course tackles some of the most currently renowned work by notoriously difficult interdisciplinary thinker/s of the 20th century. Students will have the opportunity to read and engage with puzzling and inciting theoretical work by primary sources, Walter Benjamin and/or Judith Butler, without worrying about the grade (pass/fail) or lack of understanding because we will experiment with a different approach to reading and thinking collectively beyond oppositions.
Day 1, Wednesday, Jan. 18th: Introduction:
Please print both the 1990 and 1999 prefaces to Judith Butler's Gender Trouble and read one of your choice prior to coming to class. Print/copy both and always bring the material with you to class.
Discuss different approaches to reading and understanding theoretical works, including:
-Are reading and understanding considered to be solitary processes? Why so?
-Do study, reading and understanding have to be solitary processes and if not, how can they be collective and what does this change?
Read together excerpts from Judith Butler and Walter Benjamin, such as “Experience.”
Homework: Finish reading the short pieces from which we read excerpts in class, such as both prefaces to Gender Trouble and fragments by Walter Benjamin.
Day 2, Thursday, Jan. 19th: Benjamin
Discuss the reading experiences at home and in class and the two short essays read at home in two-four groups. Write a one paragraph response. Begin reading Benjamin's “Critique of Violence.”
HW: Finish reading “Critique of Violence,” and read Judith Butler's “Critique, Coercion, and Sacred Life in Benjamin’s 'Critique of Violence,’” from Political Theologies.
Week 2:
Day 3, Monday, Jan. 23: Benjamin continued
Discuss both essays and write a short response. Divide into groups and discuss responses. Read together Benjamin's “Capitalism as Religion” and an excerpt by Butler.
Homework: Finish reading the excerpt and read one other fragment or excerpt chosen from a selection provided.
Wednesday, Jan. 24: Butler's Turn to Benjamin
Discuss the excerpts read at home and their selection. Begin reading an excerpt from Butler's Frames of War and discuss her “turn” to ethics and Benjamin. Begin analyzing the reading.
Homework: Finish reading the chapter of Frames of War and write a one paragraph response.
Day 5, Thursday, Jan. 25:
Read the responses and expand them to one page. Read an excerpt from Butler's Giving an Account of Oneself. Discuss the contemporary relations of media and war, the reading, and the relationship between them.
Discuss the reading in relation to the material addressed throughout the course, including revisiting the questions from the first day, adding a discussion of levels of difficulty, as well as the meaning of “understanding,” including:
-Does “understanding” presume to understand completely, 100%? Is such a goal appropriate for an initial encounter with theoretical work or does it set unrealistic expectations that become encouraging in the process of study? Why?
-What does it mean to read collectively and is it helpful to do so, and when?
-What are helpful strategies for reading and (not) understanding difficult texts?
Homework: :)
The following books that contain the material we will be reading should be available on reserve at MSE. Please make copies and bring the text we are working on to class.
1. Selected Writing, Volume 1 by Walter Benjamin
2. Gender Trouble, 1999 edition, by Judith Butler
3. Giving an Account of Oneself by Judith Butler
4. Frames of War by Judith Butler
5. Political Theologies, edited by Hent de Vries