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Marxism and Society

    This page holds information on Duke University's Marxism and Society, which administers both an undergraduate certificate (separate from the undergraduate literature major), and a lecture series open to faculty, undergraduates, and graduates. Information on the lecture series can be obtained by writing to the address that ends the following section.

    A six course certificate, but not a major, is available in this program. The Perspectives on Marxism and Society Program is devoted to the study of Marxist theories of society. The focus is on Marxism, not primarily as a political or ideological system, but as a scholarly methodology incorporating a variety of analytical techniques across a wide range of disciplines. Emphasized is a critical appraisal of Marxist methods of analysis and their social implications, considered in the light of theoretical alternatives and changing historical circumstances.

    Topics covered include sexual and racial inequality, alienation, development and underdevelopment in the world system, labor processes, protest movements, and ideologies.

    The program requires and analytical core course, Marxism and Society (cross-listed as Cultural Anthropology 139, Education 139, History 186, Literature 181, and Sociology 139). Five additional approved courses satisfy the requirements of the Program. No more than three courses originating in a single department or program may satisfy the program study. Of the five approved courses, at least three must be at the 100 level or above. Further information may be obtained by writing the Director.

    Director: Professor Jane Gaines
    Perspectives on Marxism and Society Program
    125F Friedl Building
    Box 90670
    Duke University
    Durham, North Carolina 27708-0672

    Regularly Scheduled Courses

    African and African-American Studies
      70,71. The Third World and the West (cross-listed). Staff
      122. Culture and Politics in Africa. (cross-listed). Piot
      165. History of the Working Class in the United States. (cross-listed). Keyssar
    Art History
      165. Art since 1945: Modernism and Postmodernism. (cross-listed). Stiles
      189. Modern and Postmodern Architecture. (cross-listed). Staff
    Comparative Area Studies
      125. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues. (cross-listed). Staff
    Cultural Anthropology
      104. Anthropology and Film. (cross-listed). Litzinger
      113. Gender and Culture. (cross-listed). Allison or Silverblatt
      117. Global Culture. (cross-listed) Piot
      122. Culture and Politics in Africa. (cross-listed). Piot
      125. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues. (cross-listed). Starn
      127. Culture and Politics in Japan. (cross-listed). Allison
      128. Culture and Politics in Latin America. (cross-listed). Starn
      139. Marxism and Society. (cross-listed). Staff
    Education
      100. Social and Philosophical Foundation of Education. (cross-listed). Di Bona
      139. Marxism and Society. (cross-listed). Staff
    English
      101B. Introduction to Cultural Studies. (cross-listed). Gaines, Radway, Surin or Willis
    German
      270. Consciousness and Modern Society. (cross-listed) Rolleston
    History
      75,76. The Third World and the West. (cross-listed). Staff
      111C. The Emergence of Modern America: The United States from the 1890s to the Cold War. (cross-listed). Keyssar
      137. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues. (cross-listed). Staff
      142A. China: Roots of Revolution. (cross-listed) Dirlik or Mazumdar
      142B. China since 1949: The People's Republic. (cross-listed)Dirlik or Mazumdar
      150A. Documentary Film History. (cross-listed) Gaines
      153. The Insurgent South. (cross-listed) Goodwyn
      163C. The American Civil War. (cross-listed) Goodwin
      165. History of the Working Class in the United States. (cross-listed). Keyssar
      185A. Socialist Realism: Soviet Literature of the 1930s and the 1940s. (cross-listed). Lahusen
      186. Marxism and Society. (cross-listed). Staff
    Literature
      98. Introduction to the Study of Literature and Society. (cross-listed). Lentricchia or Willis
      100. Introduction to Cultural Studies. (cross-listed). Gaines, Radway, Surin or Willis
      117. Documentary Film History. (cross-listed). Gaines
      162. Special Topics in Literature and National Cultures, Ethnicity, Race. (cross-listed). Lubiano
      181. Marxism and Society. (cross-listed). Staff
    Political Science
      125. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues (B). (cross-listed). Staff
      198. Documentary Film History (B). (cross-listed). Gaines
    Religion
      183. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues. (cross-listed). Staff
    Russian
      130. Soviet Cinema. (cross-listed). Gaines, Jameson, and Lahusen
      149s. Russian Culture in the Era of Terror: A Reexamination. (cross-listed). Lahusen
      181. The Soviet 1920s: The Road to a New Synthesis. (cross-listed). Lahusen
      182. Socialist Realism: Soviet Literature of the 1930s and 1940s. (cross-listed). Lahusen
    Sociology
      125. Comparative Approaches to Global Issues. (cross-listed). Staff
      139. Marxism and Society. (cross-listed). Staff

    Lecture/Special Topics Courses Offered Periodically

    Art History
      187. Surrealism. Stiles
      188. Twentieth-Century Modernist and Postmodernist Criticism. Stiles
    Asian and African Languages and Literature
      155. Introduction to Israeli Culture. Zakim
      162. Modern Japanese Fiction and Translation. Ching
    Cultural Anthropology
      121. Culture and Politics in China. Litzinger
    History
      114B. Immigration, Migration, and Mobility of Labor. Keyssar
      139A. Radical Movements in Modern Asia. Dirlik
      172B. China and West. Mazumdar
    Literature
      114. Film Theory. Gaines
      144s. Special Topics in Literature and Revolution. Hardt
    Political Science
      181. Marxism and Neo-Marxism. Coles