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Intro to Critical Theory Course Readings 2024-2025

Introduction to Critical Theory Syllabus (docx)Download
Marcuse Philosophy and Critical Theory (pdf)Download
Marx - Theses on Feuerbach (pdf)Download
Marx and Engels - Communist Manifesto (pdf)Download
Carl Schmitt - Political Theology_text (pdf)Download
Lenin-state-and-revolution (pdf)Download
Adorno and Horkheimer -Traditional and Critical Theory (pdf)Download
Levinas-ReflectionsPhilosophyHitlerism-1990 (pdf)Download
Wendy Brown - Neoliberaism's Frankenstein (pdf)Download
Coulthard Subjects_of_Empire_Indigenous (pdf)Download
Walter Benjamin - Work of Art (pdf)Download
Adorno_Horkheimer_Max_1947_1989_The_Culture_Industry_Enlightenment_as_Mass_Deception (pdf)Download
Arendt_Hannah_On_Revolution_1990 (pdf)Download
Marcuse Repressive Tolerance (pdf)Download
Fanon Concerning Violence (pdf)Download

More Course Readings

albert-memmi-the-colonizer-and-the-colonized-1 (pdf)Download
Foucault, Governmentality (pdf)Download
Butler-ImitationandGenderInsubordination (pdf)Download
Halberstam - Female Masculinity (pdf)Download
derrida-force-of-law (pdf)Download
giorgio-agamben-kevin-attell-state-of-exception-university-of-https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/57cbb (pdf)Download

Videos Will Be Added as the Course Progresses

Lecture 1: Marcuse's "Philosophy and Critical Theory"

This is a detailed reading of Herbert Marcuse's 1937 essay, "Philosophy and Critical Theory."  It is a part of an Intro to Critical Theory course we're offering both to university students and the general public. PDFs of readings can be found at www.ccctheory.org.  If you like this content, consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/ccctheory/about?

Lecture 2: German Idealism and the Young Hegelians

This lecture broadly covers the shift from Kant's Enlightenment philosophy to the emergence of Idealism, emphasizing Hegel's concept of history and the influence of dialectical thinking on Feuerbach and Marx. It is a part of an Intro to Critical Theory course we're offering both to university students and the general public. PDFs of readings can be found at www.ccctheory.org.  If you like this content, consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ccctheory

Lecture 3: The Communist Manifesto

This is an overview of Marx and Engels' Manifesto of the Communist party as part of an Introduction to Critical Theory course.  It is a very basic contextualized reading, though I do break out briefly into identity politics in the U.S. toward the end.  We will return to some of that discussion later in the course, so I'm just barely scratching the surface to point the conversations on our map.

Video

Lecture 4: Contextualizing Carl Schmitt and Political Theology

This lecture is part of an ongoing course: Intro to Critical Theory.  While Carl Schmitt is not a critical theorist in the sense that the Frankfurt School theorists were, his conservative thought gives us a better dimensionality for understanding what's at stake in critical theory of that period and current discourse today.  I cover some basic historical context for Schmitt as well as the academic reception of Schmitt's thought in the United States.  If you find this useful and have the means, please consider supporting ccctheory on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ccctheory

Lecture 5: Carl Schmitt's Political Theology, Essay1 and 2024 Election Ballot Debates

This is a contextualized reading of the first essay in Carl Schmitt's 1922 book, Political Theology for an Introduction to Critical Theory course. Because most students in the class are U.S. citizens, I use contemporary political discussion concerning Donald Trump's removal from the Colorado ballot and unfolding legal contestation as a current example.  Not only is it the intention of critical theory to speak to the present, I attempt to show why engagement with a thinker like Schmitt has become common whether one identifies as being on the right or the left politically. I also use Schmitt to contextualize what was at stake for the Frankfurt School theorists. More readings will follow.  #criticaltheory #politicaltheology #schmitt #election #trump #exception #sovereignty

Lecture 6: Carl Schmitt's Political Theology, Essay2

This is a contextualized reading of the second essay in Carl Schmitt's 1922 book, Political Theology for an Introduction to Critical Theory course. Because most students in the class are U.S. citizens, I use contemporary political discussion concerning Donald Trump's removal from the Colorado ballot and unfolding legal contestation as a current example.  Not only is it the intention of critical theory to speak to the present, I attempt to show why engagement with a thinker like Schmitt has become common whether one identifies as being on the right or the left politically. I also use Schmitt to contextualize what was at stake for the Frankfurt School theorists. More readings will follow.  #criticaltheory #politicaltheology #schmitt #election #exception #sovereignty

Video

Lecture 7: Carl Schmitt Political Theology Essay 3

This is a contextualized reading for Essay 3 from Carl Schmitt's 1922 book, Political Theology.  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course we are offering.  While Schmitt is not considered a classic critical theorist, being aware of his rightwing thought helps us situate what was at stake for the critical theorists of the Frankfurt School in the 1920s.  A 21st century revival in discourse on Schmitt also makes him relevant to contemporary critical theory.  #criticaltheory #carlschmitt #politicaltheology

Lecture 8: Carl Schmitt Political Theology Essay 4

This is a contextualized reading for the fourth and final essay of Carl Schmitt's 1922 book, Political Theology.  This is part of an ongoing Intro to Critical Theory course. While Schmitt is not a critical theorist, I'm using his thought to situate what's at stake for the emergence of critical theory of the Frankfurt School and because his thought has returned to discussion in more recent critical discourse of the 21st century.  #criticaltheory #politicaltheology #carlschmitt #sovereignty

Lecture 9: Lenin's State and Revolution, Chapters 1 & 2

This is a contextualized reading of chapters 1 & 2 from V. I. Lenin's 1917 book, State and Revolution.  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course.  We are reading Lenin to contextualize the far-left at the moment of the emergence of the Institute for Social Research in 1922.  This helps us gain a better understanding for the arrival of the discourse known as critical theory.  Support us on Patreon if you find this useful: https://www.patreon.com/ccctheory  #criticaltheory #lenin #stateandrevolution #1917

Video

Lecture 10: Lenin State and Revolution, Part 2

This is a contextualized reading of chapters 3 through the end of from V. I. Lenin's 1917 book, State and Revolution.  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course.  We are reading Lenin to contextualize the far-left at the moment of the emergence of the Institute for Social Research in 1922.  This helps us gain a better understanding for the arrival of the discourse known as critical theory.  Support us on Patreon if you find this useful: https://www.patreon.com/ccctheory  #criticaltheory #lenin #stateandrevolution #1917

Lecture 11: Horkheimer's "Traditional & Critical Theory"

This is a contextualized reading of Max Horkheimer's 1937 essay, "Traditional and Critical Theory" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.  Other videos and course reading materials can be accessed at www.ccctheory.org  #criticaltheory #horkheimer #marx

Lecture 12: Reading Levinas's "Reflections on the Philosophy of Hitlerism"

This is a contextualized reading of Emmanuel Levinas's 1934 essay, "Reflections on the Philosophy of Hitlerism."  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course, and while Levinas is not considered a critical theorist his insights here draw us in powerful ways toward the forms of critique that the Frankfurt School will pick up in the 1940s.  The text, syllabus, and other lecture videos can be found at www.ccctheory.org  #criticaltheory #levinas #philosophy

Video

Lecture: Wendy Brown and "Neoliberalism's Frankenstein"

This is a contextualized reading of Wendy Brown's essay, "Neoliberalism’s Frankenstein: Authoritarian Freedom in Twenty-First Century 'Democracies.'"  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course and reads Brown as a contemporary example of doing the work of critical theory.  #criticaltheory #neoliberalism #democracy

Lecture 14: Glen S. Coulthard's "Subjects of Empire"

This is a reading of Glen Sean Coulthard's (Yellowknives Dene) 2007 essay, "Subjects of Empire: Indigenous Peoples and the ‘Politics of Recognition’ in Canada."  It's part of an Intro to Critical Theory course and introduces Indigenous and anti-colonial thought.  #criticaltheory #indigenous #empire #fanon

Lecture 15: Walter Benjamin's "Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"

This is a contextualized reading of Walter Benjamin's "Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" for an Intro to Critical Theory course.  #criticaltheory #walterbenjamin #aesthetics

Video

Lecture 16: Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno's "The Culture Industry"

This is a contextualized reading of Horkheimer and Adorno’s “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception” for an Intro to Critical Theory course.  It builds on discussions of neoliberalism in previous lecture videos.  #criticaltheory #horkheimer #adorno #culture #industry #dialectic #enlightenment

Lecture 17: Hannah Arendt's Introduction her book On Revolution

This is one in a series of lectures for our Intro to Critical Theory course.  I do a brief Intro to Arendt in relation to our previous readings and lectures and then cover her "Introduction" to On Revolution.  #criticaltheory #hannaharendt #arendt #revolution

Lecture 18: Hannah Arendt's "The Meaning of Revolution."

This is a contextualized reading of Hannah Arendt's chapter, "The Meaning of Revolution" from her book, On Revolution.  It's part of an ongoing Intro to Critical Theory course. Please note a correction with respect to Alcibiades and Plato's Republic: I was thinking of Polemarchus in the Republic who makes a similar argument to Alcibiades.  I caught myself as I went on.   #criticaltheory #hannaharendt #revolution

Video

Lecture 19: A Gloss on Freud to Help with Marcuse

This lecture is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course.  We just read some Hannah Arendt and will be moving on to Marcuse's essay, "Repressive Tolerance" next.  This lecture is meant as a gloss on basic concepts in Freudian thought to help unfamiliar readers better understand the dense language in Marcuse.  It does not present Freud or Marcuse as "correct" but warns against uncritical accounts of both figures.  #criticaltheory #Freud #marcuse

Lecture 20: Herbert Marcuse's "Repressive Tolerance"

This is a contextualized reading of Herbert Marcuse's 1965 essay, Repressive Tolerance" for an Intro to Critical Theory Course.  I frame it in the context of our previous readings and lectures.  #criticaltheory #marcuse #frankfurtschool #repressivetolerance #desublimation #instrumentalreason

Lecture 21: Frantz Fanon's "Concerning Violence"

This is a contextualized reading of Fanon's "Concerning Violence" chapter from his 1961 book, The Wretched of the Earth.  It's part of an ongoing Intro to Critical Theory course.  Along with covering the chapter I make brief interludes toward contemporary political problems and a very brief discussion of comparative genocide.  #criticaltheory #fanon #concerningviolence #wretchedoftheearth

Video

Lecture 22: Albert Memmi, "Does the Colonial Exist?" from The Colonizer and the Colonized

This is a contextualized reading of Chapter one from Albert Memmi's famous 1965 book, The Colonizer and the Colonized.  Because most of my audience is made of students in the United States, I give attention to current and ongoing conditions here to exemplify the usefulness of Memmi's work.  #memmi #colonizer #colonized #criticaltheory #postcolonialism

Lecture 23: Albert Memmi, chapters 2 & 3 from The Colonizer and the Colonized

  • This contextualized reading is part of an Intro to Critical Theory course.  It covers "The Colonizer Who Refuses" and "The Colonizer Who Accepts" from Albert Memmi's classic, The Colonizer and the Colonized.  Because most of my students are in the United States, I try to use examples from here to illustrate the enduring importance of Memmi's thought.  #criticaltheory #memmi #colonizer #colonized 

Lecture 24: On Michel Foucault's "Security, Territory, Population," lecture from February 1, 1978

This is a contextualized reading of Michel Foucault's "Security, Territory, Population," lecture from February 1, 1978. This lecture introduces the concept of "governmentally."  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory Course.  #criticaltheory #foucault #governmentality

Video

Lecture 25: Michel Foucault's "Security, Territory, Population," lecture from February 8, 1978

This is a contextualized reading of Michel Foucault's "Security, Territory, Population," lecture from February 8, 1978. This lecture introduces the concept of "governmentally."  It is part of an Intro to Critical Theory Course.  #criticaltheory #foucault #governmentality

Lecture 26: Judith Butler, "Imitation and Gender Insubordination"

This is a contextualized reading of Judith Butler's, "Imitation and Gender Insubordination" essay from 1991.  It is part of an Introduction to Critical Theory course.  #gender #criticaltheory #Butler #Imitation #drag #insubordination #gendertheory

Lecture 27: Jack Halberstam's Female Masculinity

This is a contextualized reading of the introductory chatter to Jack Halberstam's 1998 book, Female Masculinity.  It is part of an ongoing Introduction to Critical Theory course.  #criticaltheory #femalemasculinity #halberstam

Video

Lecture 28: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 1

This is part 1 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 29: "Force of Law," Part 2

This is part 2 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 30: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 3

This is part 3 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 31: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 4

This is part 4 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 32: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 5

This is part 5 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 33: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 6

This is part 6 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.   #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 34: Derrida's "Force of Law," Part 7

This is part 7 of a contextualized reading of Jacques Derrida's 1989 essay, "Force of Law" for an Introduction to Critical Theory course.  #criticaltheory #derrida #forceoflaw

Lecture 35: Agamben's State of Exception, Part 1

This is part 1 of a contextualized reading of Giorgio Agamben's State of Exception, Chapter 1 

Lecture 36: Agamben's State of Exception, Part 2

Part of an Introduction to Critical Theory course, this is a contextualized reading of Agamben's State of Exception, chapters 2 &3.    #Agamben #derrida #stateofexception #criticaltheory

Lecture 37: Agamben's State of Exception, Part 3 / Course Conclusion

Part of an Introduction to Critical Theory course, this is a contextualized reading of Agamben's State of Exception, chapters 4, 5, & 6.  It follows several videos explicating Derrida's famous "Force of Law" essay.  #Agamben #derrida #stateofexception #criticaltheory

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