Theory Across Disciplines: (Theory Across Disciplines)

Surveying the extraordinary scope of contemporary theory, Jeffrey R. Di Leo brings together contributors from around the world to speak to the ways in which theoretical concerns from a variety of disciplines operate within their respective fields of concern. Contemporary theory is a multi- and inter-disciplinary endeavour that operates within and among the humanities, the social sciences, and many of the professions. In addition to its now somewhat more standard-fare work in these areas, it has also made substantial inroads into the natural sciences and the formal sciences. To be sure, more disciplines from across the academy have integrated theory into their practice than at any other time in history. Di Leo and his fellow contributors survey the workings of contemporary theory within and among the humanities, sciences, and professions, including contributions on literary studies, film studies, gender studies, visual art, law, biology and geology. They bring together distinguished theorists whose work spans the academy to speak to the ways in which theoretical concerns from a variety of disciplines work within their respective fields of concern.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Multidisciplinary Theory in the New Millennium Jeffrey R. Di Leo (University of Houston, United States) Part One: Arts and Humanities 1 Multidisciplinary Theory in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies Mario Telò (UC Berkeley, United States) 2 Multidisciplinary Theory in Digital Humanities Roopika Risam (Dartmouth College, United States) 3 Multidisciplinary Theory in Environmental Humanities Stephanie LeMenager (University of Oregon, United States) 4 Multidisciplinary Theory in Film Studies Patrick ffrench (King's College London, United Kingdom) 5 Multidisciplinary Theory in Literary Studies Daniel T. O'Hara (Temple University, United States) 6 Multidisciplinary Theory in Medical Humanities Ronald Schleifer (University of Oklahoma, United States) 7 Multidisciplinary Theory in Philosophy Jeffrey R. Di Leo (University of Houston, United States) 8 Multidisciplinary Theory in Religion Daniel Schultz (Whitman College, United States) 9 Multidisciplinary Theory in Sound Studies Naomi Waltham-Smith (University of Oxford, United Kingdom) 10 Multidisciplinary Theory in Theater S. E. Gontarski (Florida State University, United States) 11 Multidisciplinary Theory in Visual Art Studies Kiff Bamford (Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom) Part Two: Social and Behavioral Sciences 12 Multidisciplinary Theory in Anthropology Myrdene Anderson (Purdue University, United States) and Erik R. Otárola-Castillo (Purdue University, United States) 13 Multidisciplinary Theory in Communication Studies Andrew Baerg (University of Houston-Victoria, United States) 14 Multidisciplinary Theory in Critical Black Studies Zahi Zalloua (Whitman College, United States) 15 Multidisciplinary Theory in Gender Studies Marta Segarra (University of Barcelona, Spain) 16 Multidisciplinary Theory in Psychoanalysis Daniel Orrells (King's College London, United Kingdom) 17 Multidisciplinary Theory in Sex Studies Christopher Breu (Illinois State University, United States) Part Three: The Professions 18 Multidisciplinary Theory in Architecture Louise Pelletier (University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada) 19 Multidisciplinary Theory in Educational Policy Studies Noah Delissovoy (University of Texas at Austin, United States) and Alex J. Armonda (University of Texas at Austin, United States) 20 Multidisciplinary Theory in Journalism Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova (University of Liverpool, United Kingdom) 21 Multidisciplinary Theory in Law Eric Heinze (Queen Mary University, United Kingdom) 22 Multidisciplinary Theory in Translation Brian O'Keeffe (Columbia University, United States) Part Four: Natural and Formal Sciences 23 Multidisciplinary Theory in Biology Adam Nocek (Arizona State University, United States) 24 Multidisciplinary Theory in Geology Jason Groves (University of Washington, United States) 25 Multidisciplinary Theory in Spatiality Studies Robert T. Tally Jr. (Texas State University, United States) 26 Multidisciplinary Theory in Systems Science Henry Sussman (Independent Scholar, United States) Index

About the Author :
Jeffrey R. Di Leo is Professor of English and Philosophy at the University of Houston-Victoria, USA. He is editor and founder of the critical theory journal symploke, editor-in-chief of American Book Review, and Executive Director of the Society for Critical Exchange and its Winter Theory Institute. His books include The Bloomsbury Handbook of Literary and Cultural Theory (Bloomsbury, 2019), What's Wrong with Antitheory? (Bloomsbury, 2020), and Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: An Overview (Bloomsbury, 2023).

Review :
What can theory do today? This is the question to which these vibrant, diverse, abrasive, and politically savvy essays gathered in Di Leo's compendium answer in many voices. The polyphony offered results in a crash course on theory's recent inventions and interventions. A metamorphosed theory rejuvenated by interdisciplinarity, spliced in original assemblages, sloughing off old skins and new masks, destabilizes, rethinks and re-founds our happily undisciplined disciplines. In this splendid volume, you can learn about fields ranging from architecture and biology to literature and systems science while receiving an education about theory itself-its kinds, histories, futures, and, above all, the lesson that any discussion of method must be a question for theory, lest we lose our way. Theory Across Disciplines is a truly innovative book that's indispensable to all levels of study. This timely collection examines theory's multifaceted presence in disciplines ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences and beyond. By engaging with various conceptions of theory, this essential work provides a comprehensive map of theory's role in contemporary academic discourse. Scholars and students alike will find this volume invaluable for understanding how multidisciplinary theory shapes and advances knowledge.