Here is the lovely clip from Freaks and Geeks. ENJOY!
]]>Here are some possible topics to choose for your paper. You can pick one of these or write on a completely different question/topic:
According to Butler, what it gender? What is the relationship between sex, gender, desire? What is the significance of her claims? How does her definition of gender complicate some feminist understandings of gender?
Does sex have a history? What does Butler have to say about this? What about Thomas Laquer? Riki Wilchins?
Is drag subversive? According to Butler, how does drag complicate our understanding of gender as expressive? Is drag always subversive? What is drag? What is the relationship between drag and camp, as Esther Newton discusses in Mother Camp?
Hooks writes: “When I first heard that there was this new documentary film about black gay men, drag queens, and drag balls I was fascinated by the title. It evoked images of the real Paris on fire, of the death and destruction of a dominating white western civilization and culture, an end to oppressive Eurocentricism and white supremacy� (149). Taking up hooks’ question, Is Paris Burning? What is meant by the title, “Paris is Burning?� Does this film (and its representation of drag) challenge or reinforce capitalism? How does it complicate or reinforce the “American dream�? What does Butler suggest is the significance of this documentary for challenging and rethinking the “heterosexual matrix of intelligibility� or the “heterosexual hegemony�?
How do queer theories erase the lives of transgendered people? Why is thinking/writing about transgendered issues important for those queering theory?
]]>Jenny's icebreaker question really interested me and I'd like to do an extension of that.
For Wednesday, March 26th, please bring in an article of clothing, accessory, or object that you feel says something about you. You can talk about it, or just let the visual say everything you want it to. If you don't bring anything in, you can try and describe something that "reflects" something about you, but visuals are always better and I love show and tell. There are no restrictions on what you can bring in...it can be something you bought, something you made, something someone gave you...the idea is that you feel connected to the object because you think it "represents" "you" or reveals something hidden about you that may not be readily apparent.
:) I look forward to class next week! Hope everyone is enjoying their break!
]]>While considering my final project--which I plan to do on queering the idea of kinship--I was reminded of this article that was written a couple years ago...and thanks to Sara for reminding me I can post things on the blog! Beyondmarriage.org was created by a group of people who are often considered to be leaders withing the LGBT activist community who felt that the movement was possibly hurting itself by focusing so much attention upon just gaining access to existing hetero marriage rights. It outlines a philosophy that has been engaged by some activists since 2006, and, to me, it seems to be influenced somewhat by the sort of theory we've been reading in class. I'd appreciate any ideas everyone has about what the site advocates.
Kaitlin
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