Theory & Pop: Learning Critical Theory through Popular Culture

Class Description

This course is an exploration of critical theory through popular culture- without turning to obscure arthouse or cerebral media. We will learn about Freud and Foucault through The Purge, about Althusser through The Devil Wears Prada, and about Lacan through Mad Men.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Ahmed Dardir (PhD in Middle East Studies from Columbia University) is the co-founder of the Institute for De-Colonising Theory (IDCtheory) and visiting fellow at the Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CILAS). He has taught courses on political theory, literature, and intellectual history. He is dedicated to making theory relatable.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual

Class Capacity: 15

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged

Materials List

Required

• Digital Course Packet
  • Including selections from Freud, Foucault, Althusser, hooks, Baudry, and Lacan.

• The Purge: Anarchy (2014). Directed by James DeMonaco. Available to rent on Prime or Apple TV.

• The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Directed by David Frankel. Available to stream on Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube TV, or Disney+. Available to rent on Prime or Apple TV.

• Mad Men (2007–2015). Showrunner Matthew Weiner. Available to stream on HBO Max, AMC+, or YouTube TV. Available to buy on Prime or Apple TV.

First Assignment

• Watch The Purge: Anarchy (or the entire Purge anthology if you have the time)

• Sigmund Freud, Sections II-III, Civilization and Its Discontents

• Sigmund Freud, “Resistance and Repression,” in Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (1916-17)

• Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality v.1, pt. 2 “The Repressive Hypothesis”

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Purge and the Repressive Hypothesis
2. Ideology Wears Prada
3. Mad Men and Desire: Advertisement’s objet petit a
4. Mad Men and Desire: Don Draper’s jouissance

Cost and Registration

4 Sessions, $220 ($198 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($220), Community Supported ($205), and Sponsor ($235). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

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