LIT 360 - Literary Theory: Revolution and Repetition

In this course we will analyze the concepts of “Revolution” and “Repetition” in modern literary theory to discuss issues such as artistic originality, imitation, tradition, and literature’s role in history. In addition to European and Anglo-American critics, we will read often-ignored Russian critics and use some Russian case studies. For example, we will look at the Russian Revolution and its theorists to discuss the relationship between literature and ideology. At the same time, we will use the metaphor of “Revolution” to speak about individual writers’ often rebellious relationship with the past, and literary theorists’ discussions of parody and intertextuality. Russian thinkers have been particularly interested in these concepts (and for good reason, as we will find out), and we will look at the way that they have contributed to major 20^th century theoretical trends. In other words, if you want to find out how Dostoevsky’s “Notes from the Underground” helped to shape Derrida’s theories, this is the class for you!