Critical Theory Explained
What is Critical Theory and why are white evangelicals threatened by it.
We’ve been critiquing the writings of a christian blogger named Steve, who strongly opposes Critical Theory. Being new to the topic, I was completely ignorant about its basic tenets, so I asked the AI gods, and this is what I was able to glean from the numerous articles about it. Some of the following information comes from this Wikipedia article.
AI Overview
Critical theory is a social, historical, and political school of thought that analyzes and challenges systemic power relations, arguing that knowledge, truth, and social structures are shaped by power dynamics between dominant and oppressed groups.
Critical Theory researchers attempt to uncover how communication phenomena influence taken-for-granted assumptions regarding who “ought to be” and “ought not to be” empowered in a given society. The thoughts and beliefs of the ruling class tend to be accepted both by those in power and those disempowered by them. Thus, one of the underlying goals of Critical Theory analysis is to reveal the ways in which (words) help create and maintain, political oppression. The ultimate goal is to create a more just and equitable society.
Key Concepts and Origins:
- Marxist Roots – 1840s: Critical theory emerged from the Marxist tradition, focusing on analyzing economic class relations and the exploitation of labor.
- Frankfurt School – 1930s: Was a group of German-Jewish intellectuals who sought to understand and critique the rise of fascism and capitalism.
- Beyond Traditional Theory: Unlike traditional theories that focus on understanding or explaining society, critical theory aims to dig beneath the surface and uncover the assumptions that maintain social inequalities and oppression.
- Emancipation and Transformation: Critical theory is not just about understanding the world, but also about transforming it to achieve a more just and equitable society.
Core Ideas:
- Critique of Power: Critical theory examines how power structures and ideologies shape social norms, institutions, and practices.
- Ideology Critique: It seeks to expose and challenge the underlying beliefs, values, and systems of power that often remain unexamined in society.
- Social Justice: Critical theory is often used to advocate for social justice and challenge systems of oppression based on race, class, gender, sexual preference and other social categories.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: It draws on insights from various disciplines, including sociology, philosophy, psychology, and political science.
- Normative Approach: Critical theory is not just descriptive; it is also prescriptive, aiming to identify and challenge the norms and structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression.
- Emancipatory Goal: Critical theory seeks to liberate or emancipate people who are oppressed, aiming to create a more just and equitable society.
Examples of Critical Theory in Action:
- Critical Race Theory: Analyzes how racism is embedded in social structures and institutions.
- Feminist Theory: Examines gender inequality and the ways in which women are oppressed.
- Queer Theory: Critiques heteronormativity and explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ people.
- Heteronormativity is what makes heterosexuality seem coherent, natural, and privileged. It involves the assumption that everyone is ‘naturally’ heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is an ideal, superior to homosexuality or bisexuality.
- Critical Theory of Education: Analyzes how education systems can perpetuate social inequalities.
- Critical Theory of Media: Examines how media can shape perceptions and reinforce dominant ideologies.
While researching Critical Theory, I consulted my favorite resource for all things philosophical, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Their 22,500-word analysis of Critical Theory is much too complex (and wordy) to summarize here or anywhere. As we shall explore in future blogs, it’s doubtful that Steve’s dubious 1,600-word blog comparing Critical Theory to christianity would come anywhere close to accurately describing even the most basic tenets of Critical Theory. But that’s not really his objective anyway. His purpose is to explain why he, as a white, heterosexual, christian male living in the South, is the one being oppressed. He is suffering from the Persecuted Person of Privilege Complex.
The About Us page of the Mt. Toll Productions website reflects my stance on the topic of prejudice.
“In this polarized day and age, we have grouped ourselves into tribes. Internet logarithms are designed to make sure that we see only those images that support the ideology of our particular clan. When we are constantly bombarded by only those messages that support the prejudices of our side, we tend not to question what we’re being told. We are blind to the possibility that our way of thinking might actually be shortsighted, misleading, one sided or simply incorrect. This tribal POV condemns us to highly limited ways of looking at the world and thus highly limited modes of behavior. None of us is free of it.”
Coming soon:
We will be critiquing Steve’s attempt to discredit critical theory, which might also help us to understand why he believes CT is a threat to his privileged way of life.
From Where I Stand
Dale Crum