Autotheory as a method of historical reflection. Reading Oksana Vasyakina’s Steppe - Einzelansicht

According to curator and researcher Lauren Fournier, Authotheory is an umbrella-term ”that has emerged to describe contemporary works of literature, art, and art writing that integrate autobiography and other explicitly subjective and embodied modes with discourses of philosophy and theory in ways that transgress genre conventions and disciplinary boundaries.” By blending theory with personal narrative, autotheory allows for a deeper exploration of the complexities and nuances of various socio-cultural issues. 

Additionally, autotheory can challenge existing power structures and hierarchies within the humanities by elevating marginalized voices and perspectives. By centering the experiences of those on the frontlines of research, autotheory can help to disrupt dominant narratives and offer a more inclusive and diverse understanding of humanitarianism.

In this course, students will be introduced to auto-theory not only through methodological texts, but directly through a text created by this method. During the course students will read and discuss only one novel Steppe written by contemporary Russian queer writer Oksana Vasyakina. We will analyse the literary work as a source and theoretical work at the same time.

This seminar will be directed at graduate and undergraduate students and will pursue 3 objectives:

As a final assignment, students will be asked to write a short essay (3000 words) combining self-reflection and autotheory to present an analysis of their own past or present.

The course will be held completely in Russian; it will use Russian-language sources as reading selections. Beyond developing perspectives and expertise in critical analysis, students will practice and advance their conversational Russian language skills. To be admitted to the course, students will need to demonstrate language proficiency at the level of C1 or higher.

3 ECTS (for appropriate modules):
short essay (3.000 words)

StudiumPlus (Modul Ba-SK-P-1)
Variante I: 3 ECTS short essay (3.000 words)
Variante II: 6 ECTS 15-page course paper on a chosen topic