Affect theory is an alternative to traditional models of subjectivity that emphasize decision-making and rationality. One of the philosophical forefathers of affect theory is Henri Bergson, who developed a "flow" model based upon our experience of time and duration. This course will explore "flow" models in philosophy and literary studies, and culminate in a close reading of two classics of contemporary affect theory, Lauren Berlant's Cruel Optimism and Sianne Ngai's The Gimmick: Aesthetic Judgment and Capitalist Form.