Dialogues in Critical Theory between East and West

1 Course Unit

The twentieth century, marked by radical political revolutions and immense technological advancements, witnessed a seismic shift in critical thinking—the emergence of what we now call "critical theory." Instead of the centrality of the free individual, an idea of structure took hold; instead of grand narratives, the notion of decentered subjectivity gained prevalence. Concurrently, the 1917 communist revolution, WWII, and the Cold War divided the world into distinct cultural, political, and epistemological formations—broadly categorized as East and West, or socialist and capitalist worlds. This seminar will explore the genesis of this transformation in critical thinking, focusing on literary, cultural, and political theory through the lens of the political and cultural divide between Eastern and Western Europe. Participants will be introduced to the main tenets of critical theory and continental philosophy of the twentieth century, including structuralism, Marxism, psychoanalysis, existentialism, and deconstruction. The seminar will highlight the often covert dialogues and conceptual exchanges between East and West, despite censorship and beyond official channels. Finally, we will ask: what promise does critical theory have for us today, in a world dominated by war, political crises, and global capital? No previous knowledge of literary and cultural theory or philosophy is required. Mutually Exclusive: REES 1171 1 Course Unit