Bernie Sapir’s Introduction Regarding Critical Theory, Our blogs, and our Class
This is my first blog, and I am excited that it will help cultivate my knowledge of Critical Theory. I look forward to offering my perspectives and glean from other students’ perspectives. With guarded optimism, I realize the learning curve will be steep, especially in the beginning. So with some apprehension, I read our anthology’s Introduction , Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen, and Plato’s Republic . The reading illuminated a new perspective for me on literature and critical theory.
Hopefully, we will have easy access to each other’s blogs and a lot of online interaction will ensue, making this a very dynamic mechanism to communicate. Although I will turn sixty-three soon, my mind is still fertile and the learning process continues. Our blogs should facilitate a collaborative and reciprocal learning environment.
I have been taking English classes at CSUN for the last five semesters with a long-term goal of attaining a master’s degree in English, a process that has already improved my high school teaching skills. Teaching since 1997, I obtained my English credential from the LAUSD Intern Program. For the fifteen years prior to teaching, I was in the credit and collection field, working for manufacturers and financial institutions. I attained my Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting from CSUN in 1993. Every time that I learn something new I know I have grown and enhanced my mind.
After reading the assigned material for Dr. Wexler’s class this first week, I have a compelling feeling that accompanies a newborn interest. Reading about the different divisions of critical theory, from Classical Theory and Criticism of the fifth century B.C.E to the more recent theories such as New Historians and Cultural Studies, I now have a better idea of what this course entails, and I will read the material over again to solidify my comprehension, which is my practice.
From my first reading, I perceive that the various categories of Theory and Criticism are formed to a large degree by the socio/political/religious variables present at their respective periods, which impacts the writers, their reading audiences, and their critics. For instance, the predominant female writers from an earlier period did not receive their just acclaim from critics until the “Feminism Theory and Criticism” period became prominent. And the Marxist Theory and Criticism may explain Leo Tolstoy’s disillusionment with writing near the end of his career. Therefore, with confidence, I predict that this English course will create another lens to view literature, literary criticism, and societies.
When Dr. Wexler showed us that clip of the human female doll and her male counterpart, listening to students’ responses afterwards was a revelation that has inspired me to immerse myself into the learning process of English 436 and become a valuable contributor to our class discussions and blog posts.
