Fundamentals
of Literary and Cultural Criticism
Fall 2005
Bernice Hausman
Paper
#2: Critical Response--DUE NOVEMBER 18 (can be turned in sooner if
desired; remember to give directly to Prof. Hausman rather than leaving it in
her mailbox).
Syllabus definition: Critical response to cultural
studies approach. 6-8 pages. 20 points.
Expanded definition: There are two ways to write a critical response paper.
1. The first is simply to discuss one article or an overall approach, first describing and explaining it and then critiquing it. This approach usually works best if you have a number of problems with the approach and are trying to demonstrate its limitations or constraints as a critical theory. However, you can also use this first approach in a more positive manner if you want to demonstrate why you think this approach is helpful or useful in discussing some particular cultural practices or discourses that interest you.
2. The second is to use a comparative approach, in which you take two basically different critical approaches, describe/explain each, and then compare and contrast them.
Ideas: Address a general area you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in issues of education, discuss bell hooks and Cornell West. If you are interested in questions about ideology, discuss the chapter in Crusoe's Footprints about Althusser and Gramsci. If you are interested in advertising, you might address Barthes and Williams.
Hints: In this paper, you will need to go into the particular theory or theories you are working with in depth, so you may need to look at some outside sources that discuss the text(s) you are looking at. The focus, however, is on your analysis of the deficits and advantages of a particular approach. It may also help to use classmates (perhaps groupmates) as sounding boards for your ideas. "Does this sound okay?" might be a helpful way to get feedback, and you can even trade paper comments with members of your group, if you are so inclined.
Finally, this paper will need a stronger argument than the first paper, which was more reflective in nature. The rhetorical purpose of this paper is to convince Professor Hausman that you know your (cultural studies) stuff. Please also check out formatting guidelines and expectations available on other pages on this website.