QUEER POLITICS
CMMU 080R: (Lesbian and Gay Politics)
Four week session: June 29-July 24.
Summer 1998
Instructor: Luz Calvo
Time: TTH 9-11:30am & 1:30-4pm
Location: Social Sciences II, Room 179
What is queer and what kinds of political alliance and action does it facilitate? This course will examine queer political activism, focusing on the shift from gay and lesbian to queer. Engaging the problems and possibilities of political activism based on and constructing queer identities, this course is organized in four sections: 1. Queer theories; 2. Direct action groups: ACT UP, Queer Nation, Lesbian Avengers and others; 3. Multiplying identities: genders and sexualities; and 4. Race and representation. In each of these sections, the course will explicitly address the challenges posed by bisexuals, transgendered folks, queers of color, sex radicals, political militants, and others excluded by "traditional" gay and lesbian discursive and political formations. While the pinnacle of queer mobilization might now be relegated to a historical period dating from the late 80s to the mid 90s, the underlying question of the course is the impact of queer theory and activism on the current situation and the contested future of "queer." Materials for this course include theory, fiction, independent film and video, pamphlets, flyers, posters, 'zines, and other primary sources from activist organizations.
Course Requirements: Attendance and participation are mandatory. Students must arrive on time, prepared to discuss the assigned reading. Students will write brief (2-3 pages typed) response papers due at the beginning of each class session. Response papers will summarize the critical information contained in the reading for the session and pose questions for discussion. In addition, students will work in small groups to produce a final project. In this project students will propose a detailed plan for a new activist organization and a political action or campaign, including propaganda, flyers, etc. A final paper (3-4 pages typed) will situate the student's group project within the theoretical and political issues discussed in the course.
Required Books:
- Fuss, Diana. Ed. Inside/Out: Lesbian Theories, Gay Theories. (I/O)
- Foucault, Michel. History of Sexuality Vol. 1.
- Phelan, Shane. Ed. Playing with Fire: Queer Politics, Queer Theories (PWF)
- Warner, Michael. Ed. Fear of a Queer Planet. (FOAQP)
- Course Reader
The books (except I/O) and the reader are available at Slug Books. I/O is being sold at the Bay Tree Bookstore for Film 185A (Instructor Benshoff).
Films:
- Black Nations/Queer Nations? Dir. Shari Frilot (59 min.) 1995
- Brincando el Charco, Dir. Frances Negron Muntaner (54 min) 1994
- Carmelita Tropicana: Your Kunst is your Waffen Dir. Ela Troyano (30 min) 1994
- Fast Trip, Long Drop, Gregg Bordowitz (54 min.) 1993
- Lesbian Avengers Eat Fire, Dir. Janet Baus and Su Friedrich(55 min.) 1993
- Paris is Burning,Dir. Jenny Livingston (76 min.) 1992
- Stop the Church, Dir. Robert Hilfferty (23 min.) 1990
- Watermelon Woman, Dir. Cheryl Dunye (79 min.) 1997
- Handout: Miss Rant "Queer is Not Gay"
Film:
reading:
- Foucault, M. History of Sexuality Vol. 1 (all)
- Warner, M. "Introduction" in FOAQP, (pp. vii-xxvii)
- Cohen, E. "Who are 'We'"? I/O (pp. 71-92)
Film:
- Black Nations/Queer Nations?
July 7
reading:
- Butler, J. "Critically Queer" in PWF (pp. 11-30)
- De Lauretis, T. "Queer Theory: Lesbian and Gay Sexualities" in READER
- Seidman, S. "Identity and Politics in a 'Postmodern' Gay Culture" in FOAQP (pp. 105-142)
- Seidman S. "From Gay Ethnicity to Queer Politics" in READER
- Hennessy, R. "Queer Visibility in Commodity Culture" in READER
Film:
reading:
- Yingling, T. "AIDS in America" in I/O (pp. 241-310)
- Nunokawa, J. "All the Sad Young Men" in I/O (pp. 311-323)
- Saalfield, C. and R. Navarro. "Shocking Pink Praxis" in I/O (pp. 341-369)
- Stoller, N. "Foucault in the Streets" in READER
- Crimp, D. "Right On, Girlfriend" in FOAQP (pp. 300-320)
- Crimp, D. "Art Acts Up" in READER
- Hammonds, E. "Black (W)holes" and the Geometry of Black Female Sexuality" in READER
Films:
- Stop the Church
- Carmelita Tropicana
July 14
reading:
- Berube, A. and J. Escoffier "Queer/Nation" in READER
- Chee, A. "Queer Nationalism" in READER
- Cossen, S. "Queer Voices" in READER
- Maggenti, M. "Women as Queer Nationals" in READER
- Fernandez, C. "Undocumented Aliens in the Queer Nation" in READER
- Berlant, L. and E. Freeman. "Queer Nationality" in FOAQP (pp. 193-229)
- Geltmaker, T. "Making it Perfectly Queer" in READER
- Bower, L. "Queer Problems/Straight Solutions" in PWF
- Gray, N. "Bored with the Boys" in READER
Film:
- Lesbian Avengers Eat Fire
reading:
- Jordan, J. "A New Politics of Sexuality" in READER
- Udis-Kessler, A. "Identity/Politics: A History of the Bisexual Movement" in READER
- du Plessis, M. "Blatantly Bisexual" in READER
- Young, S. "Dichotomies and Displacement" in PWF
- Pratt, M.B. "Stripped" in READER
- Valentine, D. and R. A. Wilchins "One Percent on the Burn Chart" in READER
- Hale, C.J. "Leatherdyke Boys and Their Daddies: How to Have Sex without Women or Man" in READER
- Sedgwick, E. K. "A Response to C. Jacob Hale" in READER
- Harper, P. B. "Eloquence and Epitaph" in FOAQP
- Mercer, K. "Black Masculinity and the Sexual Politics of Race" in READER
Film:
reading:
- Butler, J. "Gender is Burning"in READER
- Fusco, C. "Who's doin' the Twist" in READER
- hooks, b. "Is Paris Burning?" in READER
- Namaste, K. "Tragic Misreading" in READER
- Fung, R. "Looking for my Penis" in READER
- Moraga, C. "Queer Aztlan" in READER
- Anzaldua, G. "To(o) Queer the Writer" in READER
- Perez, E. "Irigaray's Female Symbolic in the Making of Chicana Lesbian Sitios y Lenguas" in READER
- Phelan, S. Lesbians and Mestizas: Appropriation and Equivalence" in PWF
Film:
July 24
reading: open (I have reserved space so that we may address issues that have been left out or underrepresented. Students will choose the readings for this week.)
PRESENTATIONS