ENGL 790: Studies in Queer Theory

English 790: (Studies in) Queer Theory

Spring 2008
TR 2:30-3:45
4021 Wescoe
UPDATED 4/10/08
Course website: http://people.ku.edu/~kconrad/790s08.html
Blackboard website: https://courseware.ku.edu/webapps/login/?campus_id=1

Professor Kathryn Conrad
Office hours: Wednesdays 1-3:30, Wescoe

Office: 3043 Wescoe, 4-2572

(Secondary office: 202 Nunemaker, 4-3314

Description:
This course will explore the field of contemporary queer theory, its history and intersections with other critical discourses--especially gender, race, public sphere, and literary theories--and its cultural and political applications. No prior study of queer theory is expected, although a prior familiarity with critical theory, feminist theory, and/or gender theory is useful. At least one film will be screened outside of the scheduled class time.

Texts:

Queer Theory: An Introduction Jagose, Annamarie 0814742343 NYU Press 1997
Fun Home Bechdel, Alison 0618871713 Mariner 2007
The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader Abelove, Henry, et al, eds 0415905192 Routledge 1993
Publics and Counterpublics Warner, Michael 1890951293 Zone 2005
The Trouble with Normal Warner, Michael 0674004418 Harvard 1999
GenderQueer Nestle, Joan, ed 1555837301 Alyson 2002
In a Queer Time and Place Halberstam, Judith 0814735851 NYU Press 2005
Rock the Sham! Maguire, Anne 0972929630 Street Level Press 2005
Queer Studies Corber, Robert, et al, eds 0631229175 Blackwell 2003
Black Queer Studies Johnson, E. Patrick, et al, eds 0822336189 Duke 2005

Requirements:
Students will be expected to participate in classroom and online discussion, do a written and oral presentation on an article of their own choosing, and complete a final paper/project.

30% participation: This grade is comprised of attendance (15%), and participation in online discussion blogs and in classroom discussion (15%).

Students are expected to participate at least 4 times in online discussion forums; at least 2 must be before spring break and, to count, all must be before the last day of class.

Attendance is required. The attendance portion of the grade will drop one letter grade per unexcused absence. Participation overall will be affected negatively by any absence, and students with absences--unexcused OR excused--should use the Blackboard discussion blogs to regain participation credit. Students will fail the course with 6 unexcused absences.

Students are expected to participate regularly in classroom discussion. Students who do not do so should expect to use the Blackboard discussion blogs more frequently to compensate.
If class is cancelled, we will "meet" online by holding extra discussion on the Blackboard blogs. These discussions do not count toward the 4 required postings.

70% written projects: This grade is composed of your oral and written presentation* (10%), your prospectus and bibliography (20%), and your final project (40%).

More details will be provided for each assignment.

*Oral and written presentation on one scholarly article or book chapter outside of the texts available for class. Your article must be submitted to me (15 photocopies or a computer file for upload onto Blackboard) by February 21. I will assign the dates for presentations.

Schedule:
This schedule is subject to change. The most accurate schedule will be reflected on this website.

Th Jan 17:
Course introduction.
Intro questionnaire (available on Blackboard for those who join class late).

T Jan 22:
Introduction: the roots of queer theory: Jagose, 1-71. Feminist roots: Rubin, "Thinking Sex"; de Lauretis, "Sexual Indifference and Lesbian Representation"; in Abelove et al.
Th Jan 24:
Feminism, lesbianism, strategies: Frye, "Some Reflections on Separatism and Power"; Wittig, "One Is Not Born a Woman"; in Abelove. Carbado, "Privilege," in Johnson et al.

T Jan 29:
Lesbigay epistemologies: Sedgwick, "Epistemology of the Closet," in Abelove. Ross, "Beyond the Closet as Raceless Paradigm," in Johnson.
Th Jan 31:
Sexual identity and capitalism: Clark, "Commodity Lesbianism"; D'Emilio, "Capitalism and Gay Identity"; in Abelove.

T Feb 5:
Lesbigay pedagogy: Conrad and Crawford, "Passing/Out," on Blackboard.
Th Feb 7:
Alexander, "Embracing the Teachable Moment"; Clark, "Are We Family?" in Johnson.

T Feb 12:
Queer narrative: activism: Maguire
Th Feb 14:
Maguire & ILGO video

T Feb 19:
\Queer theory: Jagose, 71-132; "Introduction," Corber et al.; "Introduction"; Johnson et al.; Cohen, "Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics?", in Johnson.
Th Feb 21:
Queer v normal: Warner, The Trouble With Normal
Article choice due.

T Feb 26:
Warner, The Trouble With Normal
Th Feb 28:
Queer counterpublics: Warner, Publics and Counterpublics

T Mar 4:
Warner, Publics and Counterpublics
Reminder: have you posted at least twice to Blackboard?
Th Mar 6: Warner, Publics and Counterpublics
Article summary due.

T Mar 11: Queer narrative: art: Bechdel, Fun Home
Th Mar 13: Bechdel, Fun Home

SPRING BREAK

T Mar 25: Queering gender, genderqueer: Butler, "Imitation and Gender Insubordination"; Garber, "Spare Parts"; in Abelove.
Paper proposal and bibliography due.
Th Mar 27: Chase, "Hermaphrodites with Attitude."

T Apr 1: ; Hale, "Leatherdyke Boys and Their Daddies"; in Corber. Case, "Toward a Butch-Femme Aesthetic," in Abelove.
Th Apr 3: Wilchins, "A Certain Kind of Freedom," in Nestle et al. Queer narrative: genderqueer: Nestle, 67-129

T Apr 8: Nestle
Paper proposals and bibliographies returned.
Th Apr 10: Nestle, finish

T Apr 15: Nestle, finish
Th Apr 17: no class

T Apr 22: Halberstam
Th Apr 24: no class
Reminder: have you done your minimum number of Blackboard posts?

T Apr 29: Halberstam
Th May 1: Halberstam
Paper rough drafts returned.

M May 5: Paris is Burning
May 6: Discussion of PiB
Th May 8: TBA
Last day of class. Evaluations

Paper final drafts due on the day of the final exam.