IPP Workshop Series
- https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/faculties/ggkgcsc/events/semester-overview/previous/archive/WinterTerm1819/extra-courses/copy3_of_ippworkshopseries
- IPP Workshop Series
- 2019-01-17T14:00:00+01:00
- 2019-01-17T16:00:00+01:00
Jan 17, 2019 from 02:00 to 04:00 (Europe/Berlin / UTC100)
The Value of Reading via Felski’s Uses of Literature
In this workshop, I will introduce the literary notions of recognition, enchantment, knowledge and shock as detailed in Rita Felski’s 2008 book Uses of Literature. Felski’s theory is a key component in my own dissertation, and while it does not yet fit within an established school of literary criticism (except perhaps Literature & Agency), Felski’s work and insight offer an approach different from many traditional literary theories. We will discuss why Felski wants to challenge the “hermeneutics of suspicion” (and what this is) and focus on modes of human interaction that illuminate generative properties of literature. Felski wants to engage with literature from a less passionless and distanced perspective and argues against contemporary interpretive tendencies which largely focus on having a critical distance to the analytical object.
In the workshop, I will introduce Felski’s key concepts, which we will discuss. Attendees will get a chance to engage with their own primary texts using this theory (insofar as that is possible), and thereby hopefully gain new perspectives on their own work. We will discuss findings, problems and applicability at the end.
//Dennis Friedrichsen