Contemporary Cultural Theory

Course goals

After completion of the course, the student:
A) has gained knowledge of contemporary cultural theories that are relevant for understanding our contemporary global world;
B) has learned to read difficult and densely written texts that are important to research fields in the humanities, and has worked with them in feminist, queer, postcolonial, posthuman(ist) and/or (new) materialist contexts;
C) has been trained to formulate relevant research questions, to locate and interpret sources, and is capable to assess the significance of one’s own research within the framework of contemporary cultural theories;
D) has gained confidence in reporting research findings in both oral and written forms.

Content

In this course, recent developments in cultural theory (used here as an umbrella term for the fields of feminist, queer, postcolonial, critical race, posthuman(ist) and (new) materialist perspectives) are explored by closely reading key texts that are crucial to what can be called an inspiration to the 'new humanities'. Critical and queer (post)humanisms, radical Black studies, crip theory, feminist (new) materialisms, or affect theory are just some of those currents at the forefront of this re-inscription of the humanities today that may be studied in this class. Each year, this seminar focuses on a specific cultural thematic horizon and the course will select its text corpus attuned to emerging theoretical-discursive developments in that field. It thereby provides a focused and close engagement with a subject that speaks nonetheless to a broad audience of cultural studies students. Without giving overviews or summaries, students in this class are asked to be part of this scholarship by reading and discussing texts that matter 'today'. They are invited to 'do' the theory proposed in them by exposing themselves to the task of what Foucault once called a 'critical ontology of ourselves'.

Additional information

The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by International Office and the Programme coordinator. You do not have to contact the Programme coordinator by yourself.

Career orientation
The course provides students with intellectual debates in the Cultural Studies, with specific focus on Gender Studies discussions. Students are thereby familiarized with very contemporary research, which is helpful for shaping their future research profile on the academic job market and beyond.