The theory toolbox : critical concepts for the humanities, arts, and social sciences / Jeffrey Nealon and Susan Searls Giroux.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nealon, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Thomas)

Contributor:

Giroux, Susan Searls, 1968-

Series:

Culture and politics series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social action.

Critical theory.

Physical Description:

ix, 217 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, [2003]

Summary:

This text involves students in understanding and using the tools of critical social and literary theory from the first day of class. It is an ideal first introduction before students encounter more difficult readings from critical and postmodern perspectives. Nealon and Giroux describe key concepts and illuminate each with an engaging inquiry that asks students to consider deeper and deeper questions. Written in students' own idiom, and drawing its examples from the social world, literature, popular culture, and advertising, The Theory Toolbox offers students the language and opportunity to theorize rather than positioning them to respond to theory as a reified history of various schools of thought. Clear and engaging, it avoids facile description, inviting students to struggle with ideas and the world by virtue of the book's relentless challenge to common assumptions and its appeal to common sense. Visit our website for sample chapters!

Contents:

1. Why Theory? 1

2. Author/ity 9

4. Subjectivity 35

5. Culture 51

Multiculturalism 55

Popular Culture 59

Media Culture 70

6. Ideology 83

7. History 95

8. Space/Time 109

9. Posts 125

Postmodernism 125

Poststructuralism 131

Postcolonialism 140

10. Differences 157

Gender 164

Queer 170

Race 175

Class 180

11. Agency 193.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0742519937

9780742519930

0742519945

9780742519947

OCLC:

52086404