Literary theory for teachers

LITERARY THEORY FOR TEACHERS

Lectures by Dr. Isagani R. Cruz

May 9 to 13, 2011

Nicanor Reyes Hall – Case Study Room

Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines

A series of public lectures on the use of Literary Theory in teaching literature on the secondary and tertiary levels.  The lectures will acquaint teachers with the fundamentals of literary theory, from its beginnings in China to Ecocriticism and Wikcrit.  The lectures will focus on the way literary theories can be applied in practice to understand and to teach literary texts and other narratives, such as films.  No prior knowledge of literary theory and criticism is required.  The lectures will be conducted in English, but texts in several languages will be used as examples.

SCHEDULE:

9 May Monday 9-11 a.m.:  Literature as Self-Expression:  The Birth of Theory in China

9 May Monday 2-4 p.m.:  Literature as Mirror:  Plato Begets Aristotle

10 May Tuesday 9-11 a.m.:  Literature as Prayer:  Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic

10 May Tuesday 2-4 p.m.:  Literature as History:  Rizal and Realism

11 May Wednesday 9-11 a.m.:  Literature as Object:  New Criticism & Structuralism

11 May Wednesday 2-4 p.m.:  Literature as Weapon:  Marx and the Marxists

12 May Thursday 9-11 a.m.:  Literature as Self-Contradiction:  Poststructuralism

12 May Thursday 2-4 p.m.: Literature as Sexual Politics:  Feminism and Gay Criticism

13 May Friday 9-11 a.m.:  Literature as World Politics:  Postcolonial Theories

13 May Friday 2-4 p.m.:  Literature in the 21st Century:  The Death of Theory Online

Lecturer’s Profile

ISAGANI R. CRUZ, Ph.D., is one of The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) of 2010.  He is the  Consultant for Academic Institutional Development of Far Eastern University.  He is a Professor Emeritus of De La Salle University.  He was an Undersecretary and is currently an Adviser of the Department of Education.  He belongs to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.  In 2010, the world’s leading literary critics contributed articles to a book honoring him as the country’s foremost literary theorist.