TEDU TRACT – Discussion Group on Critical Theory
We are pleased to announce the launch of TEDU TRACT (Text, Reading, Analysis, & Critical Theory)—a new interdisciplinary discussion group dedicated to the exploration of Critical Theory in contemporary intellectual discourse. Hosted by the Department of English Language and Literature at TED University, this initiative invites scholars, researchers, and academics across the humanities to engage in thought-provoking discussions that examine the intersections of literary theory, political thought, philosophy, cultural studies, and beyond.
Meeting three times per semester, each session will focus on a key area within the broad field of Critical Theory. Discussions will engage with diverse theoretical paradigms, including but not limited to:
§ Post-structuralism & Deconstruction
§ Postmodernism
§ Psychoanalysis & Psychology
§ Historicism
§ Political Criticism
§ Marxism & Cultural Materialism
§ Feminism & Gender Studies
§ Colonial, Postcolonial & Transnational Studies
§ Cultural Studies
§ Ecocriticism
§ Posthumanism
In an era of rapid social, cultural, and political change, Critical Theory remains essential for interrogating traditional power structures, addressing questions of identity, inequality, and justice, and offering profound insights into contemporary crises. TEDU TRACT aims to create a dynamic intellectual space where rigorous academic inquiry, diverse perspectives, and critical engagement thrive.
We welcome faculty members, researchers, and scholars from all areas of the humanities to join us in these discussions. Whether you are well-versed in Critical Theory or looking to deepen your engagement with its key debates, TEDU TRACT offers an open and stimulating environment for academic exchange.
Session Details:
· Frequency: Three times per semester
· Dates: To be announced
· Location: TED University, Department of English Language and Literature, Ankara, Türkiye
We look forward to your participation in this exciting new initiative. Join us in critically reflecting on the theoretical foundations that shape our understanding of the world.
For more information, contact Dr. Javad Momeni at javad.momeni@tedu.edu.tr. To join the sessions, email us at ell@tedu.edu.tr.
Selected Texts for the 2025 Spring Term
1. Friedrich Nietzsche, On Truth and Lying in an Extra-Moral Sense
2. Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power
3. Martin Heidegger, Identity and Difference
4. Georges Bataille, Heterology
5. Jacques Derrida, Différance
6. Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology
7. Jacques Derrida, Semiology and Grammatology
8. Barbara Johnson, Writing
9. Hélène Cixous, The Newly Born Woman
10. Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition
11. Jean Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulation
12. Gilles Deleuze & Félix Guattari, A Thousand Plateaus