Spring 2006

WGS 393 • Feminist Theory Field Seminar

Course Description

The primary goal of this course will be to introduce students, especially those in the English department's Women, Gender, and Literature concentration, to feminist theory and scholarship. Teaching such a course at the current moment presents a pedagogical challenge; the field has now been established for long enough that it has a history, and texts that were once central to establishing the field are no longer so crucial. In an attempt to address the challenge of both providing necessary background and addressing current debates, the course will pair "classic" texts with contemporary ones. Along the way, we will aim to explore the intersections of feminism with psychoanalysis, poststructuralism, Marxism, critical race theory, queer theory, among other fields. In recognition that "theory" has often now become embedded in the work of cultural analysis, the course will also use selected primary texts as case studies. Although the primary audience for the course is WGL/English department students, students from other departments and areas may also find the course relevant for their needs and are welcome to enroll. One assumption governing the course will be that "theory" serves as a rubric for articulating scholarly goals and methods and for fostering interdisciplinary discussion. The course will thus also focus on the students' research projects, and it will be adaptable to the collective needs of those enrolled. It will also likely include guest appearances by other WGL faculty in the English department.

Grading Policy

Lead discussion and present a short paper once or twice; Keep a reading journal; Two short 5-page papers; Final project; Paper or annotated bibliography

Texts

Essays by the following: Elaine Showalter, Helene Cixous, Cherrie Moraga, Donna Haraway, Judith Butler, Biddy Martin, Eve Sedgwick, Gayatri Spivak, Chandra Mohanty, Patricia Williams, Avery Gordon, Cathy Davidson, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Lisa Lowe.

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