LLSL
2026

Marxism and Literature: The Critical Tradition

Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: Literary Studies

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Marxism and Literature
Fall 2023
Taught By: Juan Decastro
Section: A

CRN: 15931

Credits: 4

This course presents an introduction to the Marxist critical tradition by highlighting its attempts to read modernist and avant-garde texts by authors such as Franz Kafka, César Vallejo, and André Breton, within the social and class contexts in which they were written. Marx famously stated that "Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." Paradoxically, however, his ideas have served as the starting point for literary and cultural interpretations throughout the world. Authors to be read may include classical Marxists like Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Leon Trotsky; Western Marxists, such as György Lukács, Theodor Adorno, and Walter Benjamin; Marxists from the Global South, such as José Carlos Mariátegui, CLR James, Aijaz Ahmad, and Roberto Schwarz; and more recent avatars, such as Angela Davis and Fredric Jameson.

After the first week of the semester, permission of the instructor will be required in order to register for this course.

College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department: Literary Studies (LIT)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 18

Add/Drop Deadline: September 11, 2023 (Monday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 19, 2023 (Sunday)

Seats Available: Yes

* Seats available but reserved for a specific population.

Status: Closed*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 12:08pm EST 12/3/2023

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday, Thursday
Times: 12:00pm - 1:40pm
Building: Eugene Lang 65 W11th
Room: 458
Date Range: 8/29/2023 - 12/14/2023