(OE020B) Reading Arcadia With Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination Peer Tutor Kate Snyder

In this article, the Board of SASS interviews Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B) Peer Tutor Kate Snyder. We hope that this article will help current and future Critical Theory students in their academic journey!

When did you take Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B), and who was your instructor?

I took Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination with Dr. Nunnery last year (2019-2020).

What did you enjoy about Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B)?

I enjoyed the freedom that the essay prompts give you to explore a text, and the way that they were often designed to put two texts in conversation with each other. These prompts provide a way to explore the texts in an interesting way. I also enjoyed analyzing and discussing different media like films and comics, which I had never really done before.

What challenged you the most in Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B)? How did you overcome those challenges?

I definitely found the essays the most challenging part of the course, and it helps to ask questions about what you find challenging both during class and office hours. I found that it was helpful to ask questions towards the beginning of the writing process, which helped prevent some problems that could occur along the way. Though the essays were challenging, I really felt like my writing had improved over the course of the year.

What are the major assignments (i.e. essays) for this class? How would you recommend approaching these assignments?

The essays are the major assignments for this class. They took me a while to write, especially earlier on in the year – I recommend starting early and asking questions!

What tips do you have that could be useful to students taking Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B)?

You have a lot of control over the conversation in class – don’t be afraid to ask your own questions or bring up interesting things that you noticed about a text.

What did the typical week in Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B) look like?

A typical week involved readings and a short writing assignment.

What was your favorite topic covered in Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination (OE020B)?

My favorite units were the Arcadia and Foucault units. I enjoyed the Foucault unit in particular because I had never worked with this type of text. In my essay for the unit, I was able to put Foucault in conversation with a text outside of the course. I found it fun and interesting to analyze a topic from outside of the course using discussions from class.

Kate Snyder is a peer tutor for Critical Theory and the Historical Imagination and can be found on the Writing and Tutoring Center.

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