How has thinking with premodern cultures shaped criticism? Seminar explores aspects of medieval Euro-Mediterranean cultures as perennial objects of thought, investigating the ways the surviving writing and images mark key theoretical models. Inquiry proceeds by pairs of works. We debate a mode of thinking by examining critical essays with premodern works. Writers include Christine de Pizan, Alain Chartier, troubadour poets; critics such as Agamben, Boucheron, Memmi, Schlanger. Modes such as gender & sexuality; visual culture; political thought; multilingual poetics and practice. Works in translation; readings in original language and preceptorial meetings for majors/graduate students.
