Identity Politics and Contemporary Feminist Theory as Narrative ENGL269 FA

Section  Limit  Enrollment  Available
  01       30      25         5

Identity politics--the idea that one's observations about the world are tied to the position that one occupies within it--calls for a transformation in the way we understand the project of contemporary social and cultural theory. Instead of analyzing contemporary theory as abstract argument, we ought to be analyzing works of social and cultural theory as narratives in their own right--narratives whose logic, investments, and strategies are tied to the specific identities on behalf of which the authors are writing. This course will compare the priorities and strategies developed by women writing about race, gender, and sexuality. We will examine articles by contemporary African-American, Post-colonial, and Latina feminist theorists, as well as queer theorists. Along with comparing the authors' arguments, we will compare and contrast how these critics explicitly or implicitly thematize their role as interpreters of literature and culture; for example, whether they view their role to be the development of counter-narratives that affirm a marginalized identity, or to be the deconstruction of existing categories of identity. Our goal will be to understand how contemporary works of feminist theory negotiate the possibilities and problems introduced by the current emphasis within theory on identity politics.

MAJOR READINGS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA ENGL

Prerequisites: None

Section 01

Burwell, J

Times: M.W.... 2:40PM;

Grading Mode: A/F

Registration Preference (1 high to 6 low, 0=Excluded) Sr: 1, Jr: 1, So: 0, Fr: 0

Major Preference Given

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997