Following is a note sent by Adarsh of III Year PSEng on the essay:
Ideas Dropped :
Gerard Genette tries to establish differences between the following:
Bricoleur : makes use of things that are not meant for the purpose.
Engineer : makes use of things that are meant for the purpose.
Art critic : will not use a painting in the process of criticism of art.
Literary critic : only person to use the same thing (literature or writing) in the process of literary criticism.
Writer : questions the world/universe which is nothing but a 'sign' to him.
Critic : questions literature. The work, which is a sign for the writer is meaning for the critic; the view of the world is sign for the critic and meaning for the writer.
Thus, Structuralism is a method with literature as it's object. The essay tries to find the principles through which Structuralism could reach it's 'object' and thus offer itself as the 'fruitful' method (as compared to Formalism)
Genette establishes the difference between Formalism and Structuralism by citing limitations of the former and the importance of the latter.
Limitations of Formalism :
1. Only worried about word/sound/sentence. The sentence would thus be the largest form that Formalism is concerned with.
2. Unlike Structuralism, it only concerns itself with the 'codes' and not the 'messages.'
3. Content for them is not the concern.
4. Formalism treats literature as a dialect.
Importance of Structuralism :
1. Establishes the relation between the form and the message. It is concerned with the message too i.e, the bone structure.
2. Semantic phenomenon i.e, it attacks the meanings.
3. Larger unities of discourse. (systems)
System of Forms - Code
System of Meanings - Meaning
4. Study of structures wherever they occur.
Genette goes on to say that, Structuralism tries to conceive structures rather than perceive them. In other words, they think they are discovering, but are actually inventing.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Certificate Course in Existentialism
A few words regarding the course...
- The classes are held every Saturday from 2 to 5 pm in Room 102 which is on the first floor of Main Block, Christ College
- A short break of 15 minutes is given at about 3.30 pm
- After the classes you can join Kurian at the kiosk over a cup of tea for an informal, free-wheeling discussion around Philosophy. Bring-your-own-tea.
- Please be in the class in time both for the class and post-break session
- Please be regular
- There is an evaluation at the end of the course to award credits (for Christ Colleges students) and certificates. The course participants have a choice of choosing the manner of evaluation which could be a paper or a viva voce or a performance or any other means with the prior permission of the course teacher. It can also be a combination of these methods.
- A handout consisting of key points on the lectures/discussion is already distributed in the first class held last Saturday. Those who were not there in the last class may collect it from me in person.
- For any clarification please free to email me.
- If you wish to meet me in person I am usually available in Room 107, First Floor, Main Block between 8.30 and 9am.
- You can obtain membership of DVK library which is one of the finest libraries for Philosophy in Asia. You can directly approach the DVK library or get in touch with Kurian or me to know the process of application for membership there.
- Christ College library too has a small collection of books on Philosophy. It also has secondary works on some of the philosophers we are studying.
- Ravi has mooted the idea of having a blog on existentialism for the group. Kanasu has volunteered to manage/moderate it. Her email id is:
- Kurian's following books are available with me if you wish to go through them.
- Process: Implications and Applications
- God-talk Reconstructed: An Introduction to Philosophy of God
- God of Love: A Neoclassical Inquiry
- I will make them available in the college library within a week or so
- If you wish to buy them at at 40% discount whose cover price in rupee is 120, 120, and 150 respectively, you may either contact Kurian or me.
- All the best. I am sure this course will set you on newer and diverse intellectual journeys.
Monday, July 07, 2008
MA English - Literary Criticism Syllabus
Department of Media Studies
Subject: MA in English with Communication Studies Credits: 4
Paper Title: Western Aesthetics (Plato to New Critics) Total Hours: 60
Paper Code: MEL133 Max Marks: 100
The selection provides a comprehensive account of intellectual traditions and critical movements from Plato to the New Critics.
Objectives
· To explore the various currents, pressures, and directions in contemporary criticism as aspects of the cultural present and as an ongoing conversation with intellectual precursors and earlier traditions of literary study.
· To enable readers to build their own sense of the map of modern literary critical practice.
Module I 20 hrs
Concepts of Criticism and Aesthetic Origins:
Mimesis: Ancient Greek Literary Theory
Mimesis
Fiction and falsehood
The audience
Catharsis
Expressivity: The Romantic Theory of Authorship
Expression
Confession
Composition
Inspiration
Imagination
Interpretation: Hermeneutics
The defence of non-theoretical understanding
Art and truth
Do texts have ‘objective’ meanings?
Gadamer’s Defence of Reading as Freedom
Value: Criticisms, Canons, and Evaluation
The origin of canons
The test of time: reputation and value
For and against literary value judgements
The containment of literature and the preservation of value
Postmodernism and the retreat from value
Module II 20 hrs
Criticism and Critical Practices in the Twentieth Century:
Literature and the Academy
Criticism incorporated
A brief prehistory
Modernism and the purification of criticism
Criticism decentred
I.A. Richards
Intellectual contexts:
The meaning of meaning
Principles of literary criticism
Practical criticism
Critical legacies
T.S. Eliot and the Idea of Tradition
‘Tradition and the Individual Talent’ - then and now
F.H. Bradley – the historical sense
Impersonality – the closet Romantic
Literary and socio-political hierarchies
Legacies: theory
Legacies: poetry
Anthropology and/as Myth in Modern Criticism
‘Myth’ and ‘reason’
Varieties of Modernist mythopoeia
Literary anthropology
Structuralism and the break up of Modernist mythopoeia
Myth and the marvelous
F.R. Leavis: Criticism and Culture
Leavis’ cultural criticism
Leavis and scientific management
Leavis’ literary criticism
Marxist Aesthetics
Marx before Marxism
Art, authorship, ideology
Base and superstructure
Marxism, realism, typicality
Art, antiquity, and modernity
Marxism since Marx
Module III 20 hrs
William Empson: From Verbal Analysis to Cultural Criticism
Verbal analysis
Cultural criticism
Contra clerisies: moral criticism
The example of Empson
The New Criticism
Origins
Methods and characteristics
Influence and legacy
Testing pattern
Mid-semester
| Sections | A | B |
| No. of Questions in each Sections | 3 | 3 |
| No. of Questions to be answered | 2 | 2 |
| Marks for each question | 10 | 15 |
| Maximum marks for each Section | 20 | 30 |
| Total Marks : 50 | | |
End-semester
| Sections | A | B |
| No. of Questions in each Sections | 6 | 6 |
| No. of Questions to be answered | 4 | 4 |
| Marks for each question | 10 | 15 |
| Maximum marks for each Section | 40 | 60 |
| Total Marks : 100 | | |
Required Texts:
- Literary Theory and Criticism An
- The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism; Ed. Vincent B. Leitch
The Rise of English - Some pointers for MA English students
- The Roles of Mathew Arnold, F R Leavis and TS Eliot in shaping Englsih literary studies in England
- Arnold's relationship with the rising middle class
- The romantic recourse to and obsesion symbol and the consequent loss
- Religion and literature as similar in terms of ideology
- The conception of literature disseminated by Scrutiny
- Conception of Practical criticism
- Conception of new criticism
- Historical conditions that necessitated the birth of new criticism in the US
- Notion of ogranic society
- Our Leavisian legacy
- The pedagogic narrative of literary studies
Feel free to add more pointers in the comment section below
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Literary Theory Class 3- III PSEng
The following note is by Adarsh. Thanks Adarsh.
Names dropped : Saussure, Barthes, Claude Levi-strauss
Concepts dropped : Philology, Diachronic and Synchronic Studies, Language as a sign system; Signifier and Signified (1st Order System)
Points :
1. 'A course in general linguistics' - Ferdinand de Saussure. 1916. Compilation of notes made by his students. The book proved to be the turning point in semiotics.
2. Philology is the study of historical development of language.
3. Diachronic studies study language with history in mind, while Synchronic studies study language at a particular point in time. Saussure was a believer of the Synchronic model.
4. He put forward two propositions :
a. Language is a sign system.
b. Language is arbitrary.
5. A sign is the coming together of the 'signifier' and the 'signified'.
The signifier is word itself while the signifies is the suggestive meaning it creates. This was called the 'First order system'
Barthes Pushed the First order system into the level of visuals, thus making the relation between the signifier and the signified arbitrary.
This led to the loss of sacredness of the language.
Barthes later, in 1954, revised this to say that a it is possible to have a definite meaning which is called a myth. This was thus known as the 'Second order system.'
Names dropped : Saussure, Barthes, Claude Levi-strauss
Concepts dropped : Philology, Diachronic and Synchronic Studies, Language as a sign system; Signifier and Signified (1st Order System)
1. 'A course in general linguistics' - Ferdinand de Saussure. 1916. Compilation of notes made by his students. The book proved to be the turning point in semiotics.
2. Philology is the study of historical development of language.
3. Diachronic studies study language with history in mind, while Synchronic studies study language at a particular point in time. Saussure was a believer of the Synchronic model.
4. He put forward two propositions :
a. Language is a sign system.
b. Language is arbitrary.
5. A sign is the coming together of the 'signifier' and the 'signified'.
The signifier is word itself while the signifies is the suggestive meaning it creates. This was called the 'First order system'
Barthes Pushed the First order system into the level of visuals, thus making the relation between the signifier and the signified arbitrary.
This led to the loss of sacredness of the language.
Barthes later, in 1954, revised this to say that a it is possible to have a definite meaning which is called a myth. This was thus known as the 'Second order system.'
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Course Plan V sem Optional English - FEP and PSEng
Department of Media Studies
V Semester FEP, JPEng, PSEng
Literary Theory and Criticism
Course Plan 2007
Name of the Teacher : Anil Pinto
Total No of hours (approx) : 37
Subject : Optional English
Papers : Literary Theory and Criticism, and Indian Literatures in Translation
| No | Topic | No of Hours | Dates/Remarks |
| 1 | Literature a critique | | June 06 – July 12 |
| 2 | Structuralism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘The Implied Order: Structuralism’ Gerard Genette : ‘Structuralism and Literary Criticism’ Claude Levi-Strauss: ‘On Structuralist Approach to Levi-Strauss’ | 6-8 | July 14- Aug 2 |
| 3 | Post-structuralism Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan : ‘Introductory Deconstruction’ Paul de Man : ‘Semiology and Rhetoric’ J. Hillis Miller : ‘On a Post-structuralist Approach to Wordsworth’s a “Slumber Did my Spirit Seal”’ | 8-9 | Aug 4 - Aug 30 |
| 4 | Psychoanalysis William Vesterman : ‘A Brief Introduction to Psychoanalytic Criticism’ Earnest Jones ‘Hamlet and Psychoanalysis’ Geoffrey Hartman : ‘A Psychoanalytic Approach to “A Slumber did my Spirit Seal”’ | 7-9 | Sept 1- Sept 13 |
| 5 | Introduction to Indian Poetics | 12-14 | Sept 15 – Sept 25 |
| 6 | Review/Feedback | | Last week of Sept |
Methodology
The classes will follow lecture method. The lectures may draw upon visual material namely painting, films, advertisement and literary works. The lectures will not limit themselves to any particular discipline but rather explore ways of meaning making at the intersection of various disciplines. There will also be scope for student presentations.
Continuous Internal Assessment
Guidelines for Submission in case of written assignments:
· The written assignment should be based on your field research. The typed assignment should adhere to the following specifications: A4 size paper, 12 font size, 11/2 line space, font: Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, or Garamond
· Assignment details - your name, reg. no, class, semester, assignment code, name of the College, name of the teacher in-charge and date of submission- should be mentioned on the top right-hand side of the first page. Do not use a cover page.
· You are free to take the assignment beyond the expected criteria. Such efforts will be appreciated
· Those who are going to be out of town can submit the assignment online
· No late submission is entertained
· Plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in rejection of assignment
· Remember to give reference at the end of your assignment of the books, articles, websites, and films that you have referred to. The following pattern may be followed: Author’s name with the last name first, a period, name of the book italicised, a period, Place of Publication, colon, name of publication, year of publication, page no
o E.g.: Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, My Experiments with Truth,
o In case of a website give the complete URL of the site referred to along with the above details
o If you are directly lifting some lines quote them. If you are using some idea write it in your words but acknowledge it
For further information on bibliography writing please refer to MLA Handbook – Sixth Edition.
Note:
Ø Attendance is compulsory for all the sessions.
Ø Please be punctual. If you are late, you will not be allowed to attend the class. However, should there be any serious issue, do discuss with me or bring to my notice through the counsellors.
Ø I expect you to come to class having read the required essays. Failing to which you will not allowed to attend the classes.
Ø Please feel free to clarify your doubts, ask questions or give feedback in the class, department or through email.
Ø While emailing please mention your name, class and batch.
Ø If you are absent for any of the classes please get the help of your classmates to get updated, before you approach me for help.
Ø If you wish to make classroom presentation on any topic or idea within the framework of the syllabus, you will be given encouragement and guidance.
Ø Visit my blog for notices and announcements regularly
Ø I reply to emails within 24 hours. If you do not receive reply within that time, you may assume that I have not received your email.
Ø As far as possible avoid calling me on my mobile phone.
Ø I am available in the department for any meeting or discussion between 8.30 and
Ø All the best. Let us grow together.
Anil Pinto
Email: anil.pinto@christcollege.edu, ajpinto42@gmail.com
Blog: http://anilpinto.blogspot.com
Course Plan I Sem Optinal English - I FEP
Dept of Media Studies
I Semester FEP
Print Culture and the Rise of the Nation-State
Course Plan
Name of the teacher : Anil Pinto
Total No of Hours (approx) : 38
Subject : Optional English
Paper : British literature: Anglo-Saxon to Early Victorian
| No | Topic | No of Hours | Dates/Remarks |
| 1 | Introduction | 2 | June |
| 2 | Essays | 7 | June, July |
| 3 | Robinson Crusoe | 11 | July |
| 4 | Northanger Abbey | 11 | Aug |
| 5 | Way of the World | 07 | Sept |
| 11 | Review/Feedback | 1 | Last week of Sept |
Teaching Methods
The classes will have lectures and student presentations. The lectures may draw upon visual material namely painting, films, advertisements, print media and literary works. Lectures will explore the theme of the paper at the intersection of various disciplines. Supplementary reading will be announced from time to time.
CIA II
Will depend on the way discussion will shape up by the first week of July. It will be announced in the beginning of the II week of July.
Guidelines for Submission in case of written assignments:
· The written assignment should be based on your field research. The typed assignment should adhere to the following specifications: A4 size paper, 12 font size, 11/2 line space, font: Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, or Garamond
· Assignment details - your name, reg. no, class, semester, assignment code, name of the College, name of the teacher in-charge and date of submission- should be mentioned on the top right-hand side of the first page. Do not use a cover page.
· You are free to take the assignment beyond the expected criteria. Such efforts will be appreciated
· Those who are going to be out of town can submit the assignment online
· No late submission is entertained
· Plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in rejection of assignment
· Remember to give reference at the end of your assignment of the books, articles, websites, and films that you have referred to. The following pattern may be followed: Author’s name with the last name first, a period, name of the book italicised, a period, Place of Publication, colon, name of publication, year of publication, page no
o E.g.: Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, My Experiments with Truth,
o In case of a website give the complete URL of the site referred to along with the above details
o If you are directly lifting some lines quote them. If you are using some idea write it in your words but acknowledge it
For further information on bibliography writing please refer to MLA Handbook – Sixth Edition.
Note:
Ø Attendance is compulsory for all the sessions.
Ø Please be punctual. If you are late, you will not be allowed to attend the class. However, should there be any serious issue, do discuss with me or bring to my notice through the counsellors.
Ø I expect you to come to class having read the required texts. Failing to which you may not allowed to attend the classes.
Ø Please feel free to clarify your doubts, ask questions or give feedback in the class, department or through email.
Ø While emailing please mention your name, class and batch.
Ø If you are absent for any of the classes please get the help of your classmates to get updated, before you approach me for help.
Ø If you wish to make classroom presentation on any topic or idea within the framework of the syllabus, you will be given encouragement and guidance.
Ø Visit my blog for notices and announcements regularly
Ø I reply to emails within 24 hours. If you do not receive reply within that time, you may assume that I have not received your email.
Ø As far as possible avoid calling me on my mobile phone.
Ø I am available in the department for any meeting or discussion between 8.30 and
Ø All the best. Let us grow together.
Anil Pinto
Email: anil.pinto@christcollege.edu, ajpinto42@gmail.com
Blog: http://anilpinto.blogspot.com
Course Plan I Sem Optional English - JPEng
Dept of Media Studies
I Semester JPEng
Print Culture and the Rise of the Nation-State
Course Plan
Name of the teacher : Anil Pinto
Total No of Hrs (aprox) : 24
Subject : Optional English
Paper : British Literature: Late Victorian to the Present
| No | Authors / Texts | No of Hours | Dates/Remarks |
| 1 | Introduction | 1 | June |
| 2 | Chaucer | 2 | June |
| 3 | Shakespeare’s Sonnets | 3 | June/July |
| 4 | Introduction to Drama | 1 | July |
| 5 | Donne, Herbert | 2 | July |
| 6 | Dryden, Pope | 2 | July |
| 7 | Thomas Grey | 2 | Aug |
| 8 | Shakespeare - Macbeth | 6 | Aug |
| 9 | Blake | 2 | Sept |
| 10 | Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelly, Keats | 2 | Sept |
| 11 | Review/Feedback | 1 | Last week of Sept |
Teaching Methods
The classes will have lectures and student presentations. The lectures may draw upon visual material namely painting, films, advertisements, print media and literary works. Lectures will explore the theme of the paper at the intersection of various disciplines.
Supplementary reading will be announced from time to time.
CIA III
Will depend on the way discussion will shape up by the last week of July. It will be announced in the beginning of the I week of August.
Guidelines for Submission in case of written assignments:
· The written assignment should be based on your field research. The typed assignment should adhere to the following specifications: A4 size paper, 12 font size, 11/2 line space, font: Times New Roman, Book Antiqua, or Garamond
· Assignment details - your name, reg. no, class, semester, assignment code, name of the College, name of the teacher in-charge and date of submission- should be mentioned on the top right-hand side of the first page. Do not use a cover page.
· You are free to take the assignment beyond the expected criteria. Such efforts will be appreciated
· Those who are going to be out of town can submit the assignment online
· No late submission is entertained
· Plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in rejection of assignment
· Remember to give reference at the end of your assignment of the books, articles, websites, and films that you have referred to. The following pattern may be followed: Author’s name with the last name first, a period, name of the book italicised, a period, Place of Publication, colon, name of publication, year of publication, page no
o E.g.: Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand, My Experiments with Truth,
o In case of a website give the complete URL of the site referred to along with the above details
o If you are directly lifting some lines quote them. If you are using some idea write it in your words but acknowledge it
For further information on bibliography writing please refer to MLA Handbook – Sixth Edition.
Note:
Ø Attendance is compulsory for all the sessions.
Ø Please be punctual. If you are late, you will not be allowed to attend the class. However, should there be any serious issue, do discuss with me or bring to my notice through the counsellors.
Ø I expect you to come to class having read the required texts. Failing to which you may not allowed to attend the classes.
Ø Please feel free to clarify your doubts, ask questions or give feedback in the class, department or through email.
Ø While emailing please mention your name, class and batch.
Ø If you are absent for any of the classes please get the help of your classmates to get updated, before you approach me for help.
Ø If you wish to make classroom presentation on any topic or idea within the framework of the syllabus, you will be given encouragement and guidance.
Ø Visit my blog for notices and announcements regularly
Ø I reply to emails within 24 hours. If you do not receive reply within that time, you may assume that I have not received your email.
Ø As far as possible avoid calling me on my mobile phone.
Ø I am available in the department for any meeting or discussion between 8.30 and
Ø All the best. Let us grow together.
Anil Pinto
Email: anil.pinto@christcollege.edu, ajpinto42@gmail.com
Blog: http://anilpinto.blogspot.com
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