French Theory: How Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, & Co. Transformed the Intellectual Life of the United States
Univ Of Minnesota Press - Univ Of Minnesota Press
Release date: 2008-04-01
Paperback
Author: Francois Cusset
History of Western philosophy, Literary theory, Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present, Philosophy, History & Surveys - Modern, Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory, Philosophy / History & Surveys / Modern, Semiotics & Theory, 20th century, France, French influences, Intellectual life, Philosophy, French, United States, History of Ideas & Popular Philosophy
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French Theory: How Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, & Co. Transformed the Intellectual Life of the United States
Date undefinedI agree with the reviewers who say this book is mostly for academics who are already somewhat familiar with the subject matter. But, also agree that if you have been in the American academic system for a while, you have probably already encountered many of the relevant names already. If you have and have tried to navigate their texts on your own, you may have been like me and in desparate need of a history lesson.
This book is a fabulous whirlwind tour of a vast array of important names (author functions). It aligns texts and authors in a historical narrative and is loaded with citations. I am excited to reread this book and use it to decide what to read next.
I feel as though this book creates a corpus called "French Theory" and in reading it, I have discovered that it's the subject I have been struggling to study all my life. I feel as though I have been reading one complicated and unconnected text after another desparately trying to get my arms around the field. Finally, an advanced textbook on the subject. Love it.
French Theory: How Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, & Co. Transformed the Intellectual Life of the United States
Date undefinedThe previous reviewer is probably correct about the audience for this book. That said, if you've come through the American academic system, at least in the humanities or social sciences, in the last 30 years or so, this is a fascinating account of the way particularly American concerns and politics led to a "structural misunderstanding," a selective appropriation and transformation of French thinkers and their ideas.
And if you think Sokal has had the last word, I'd recommend Latour's Reassembling the Social, where he draws upon the Science Wars to upset fundamental approaches in the social sciences. The Science Wars were vital for social theory, just not in the way Sokal would like.
French Theory: How Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze, & Co. Transformed the Intellectual Life of the United States
Date undefinedI bought this for my mother based on the review, figuring if she didn't like it, I would. She is a highly educated person, but wasn't familiar with the topic, and I thought it would introduce her to some of the theory that I use, etc. and give her some kind of entry into my academic world.
No dice - she found that you have to already be familiar with the topic to get anything out of this. After reading it, I agree. I found it wholly fascinating, but can understand why someone else who is not in this environment would be lost. The writer makes many assumptions regarding the reader - it's NOT an introduction by any stretch of the imagination.
That being said, it's a good book.
