Specializations in Theory and Criticism
Post-Structuralism
An approach that critiques the instability of meaning and emphasizes the complexity of language and texts.
Feminist Theory
A critique of literature and culture that examines gender dynamics and the representation of women's experiences.
Marxist Criticism
An analysis that focuses on class relations and social conflict as they are portrayed in cultural products.
Psychoanalytic Criticism
A method that uses Freudian and Lacanian theories to explore the unconscious motivations of characters and authors.
Narrative Theory
An analysis focusing on the structures, functions, and effects of narratives in literature and other media.
Cultural Studies
An interdisciplinary approach that examines cultural phenomena in their social, political, and historical contexts.
Critical Race Theory
An examination of the relationship between race, racism, and power, particularly in literature and legal studies.
Deconstruction
A critical approach that seeks to unpack and reveal inherent contradictions in texts and philosophical ideas.
Ecocriticism
A study of literature and cultural representations through the lens of environmental concerns and ecological awareness.
Queer Theory
An examination of literature and culture through the lens of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, disrupting normative binaries.
New Historicism
An approach that contextualizes literary works within the historical and cultural conditions of their time.
Digital Humanities
The intersection of digital technology and humanistic inquiry, including the analysis of digital texts and data.
Reader-Response Theory
An approach that focuses on the reader's role in making meaning from texts, emphasizing personal interpretation.
Phenomenology
A philosophy centered on the structures of experience and consciousness as a means to analyze texts and cultural artifacts.
Semiotics
The study of signs and symbols as elements of communicative behavior, often applied in analyzing texts and media.
Structuralism
An analytical method that seeks to understand the underlying structures that shape human culture and literature.
Disability Studies
A critical engagement with representations of disability in literature and culture, advocating for diverse narratives.
Transnational Studies
An approach that examines cultural production across national boundaries, focusing on globalization's impact on identity.
Social Constructionism
A theory that explores how social phenomena develop in social contexts, often applicable to critical media and cultural analysis.
Rhetorical Criticism
An examination of how effective communication and persuasion function within texts and media.
Metafiction Studies
An analysis of texts that self-consciously address the devices of fiction, questioning the nature of storytelling.
Comparative Literature
An interdisciplinary approach comparing literature from different cultures and languages, engaging with translations and cultural exchanges.
Moral Philosophy in Literature
An exploration of the ethical dimensions present in literary works and how they engage with moral philosophy.
Visual Culture Studies
A critical approach to understanding the role of visual media in shaping cultural perceptions and values.
Intermediality
A study of the interactions and influences among different media forms, examining how they inform and challenge one another.