Gilles Deleuze: Thought, Action, PoliticsCourse SyllabusCourse
Instructor: Todd MayTexts: Deleuze, Gilles, Difference and
RepetitionCourse handoutsCourse OverviewWe will seek to understand
both the political orientation of Deleuzes thought and its
ontological underpinnings. The course will start with an overview
of some political themes, then turn to the ontology he constructs
in Difference and Repetition, and finally return to some later
political writings with the ontology in the background of
discussion. With one exception, all of the readings will be from
Deleuzes work.Course Schedule2 July: Overview of Continental
philosophy and Deleuzes place in itNo reading3 July:
RhizomesRhizomes4 July: Themes from Anti-OedipusFlow, Code, and
Stock, by Dan Smith5 July: Transition to Difference and
RepetitionNomad Thought (tentative), Difference and Repetition,
Chapter 18 July-12 July: Difference and RepetitionDifference and
Repetition, Chapters 1, 3, 515 July: MicropoliticsMicropolitics and
Segmentarity16-18 July: The War MachineThe War Machine19 July:
Course conclusionNo reading
Note: This schedule is tentative and will likely change as the
class unfolds. In particular, extended discussion of Deleuzes
ontology might requirement elimination of some of the final weeks
material.
Course Requirements
The students will be expected to attend class regularly. There
is no chance that students will be able to grasp Deleuzes elusive
thought without being in class every day. Each student will be
required to present on a specific reading in the course, starting
the second week. The presentation will occur after the material is
discussed. In addition to leading the discussion, the presenter
will be expected to hand out a 1-2 page outline of the discussion
material. There will also be a final ten-page paper due at the end
of the course. The final paper will be worth 50% of the grade, the
presentation 30%, and general class participation 20%.
