02 Tuesday March 22

Joey LoMonaco's Notes for March 22nd, 2011

Class on Tuesday, March 22nd, began with a brief reading quiz concerning the theory essays that were assigned the previous Thursday. Following the reading quiz, there was group presentation on the literary lens of Queer Theory. The group used the film "Brokeback Mountain" as its source material. The group defined queer theory itself, using quotations from Foucault. They questioned the aspect of why the film is defined by its sexuality as opposed to being a "love story" or a "western."

After the presentation, Dr. Mathur gave a lecture about Queer Theory assisted by a powerpoint. The history of the lens was discussed as were prominent theorists, such as Foucault, Sedgwick, and Butler. Butler speculated that feminism reinforces a binary view of gender relations. The idea of peniopticon as a dominant group maintaining its power was also discussed.

After the powerpoint, students were "partnered up" and asked to do a queer theory reading of a Shakespearean sonnet and poem by Whitman (To a Stranger)

Clemon Yueh 03/22/2011

This date's class focused primarily on Queer Theory, that is, the theoretical study of literature through the lens of homosexuality and the study of sexuality. After some basic announcements, the class proceeded to receive instruction on the basic tenets of Queer Theory, as presented briefly in the previous class period, and expounded upon by the presenting group of the day. Unlike most Tuesday class periods, this presentation was not preceded by a lecture from the professor on the nature of Queer Theory, and the presenting group went first. The narrative chosen for analysis in this case was Brokeback Mountain, a fairly appropriate choice for Queer Theory, as it analyzes not only the nature of homosexuality, but sexuality in general. Discovering that lesbian/gay studies not only focuses on homosexuality, but rather the idea that human beings are not gendered at birth, and rather can have their sexuality affected by their choices and what is around them, Brokeback Mountain becomes even more appropriate, considering its look at the main characters' experiences not only with homoeroticism, but also with heterosexual relationships. The presentation on Brokeback Mountain also explored some of the other theoretical approaches and their reactions to queer theory, such as psychoanalysis explaining how repression of hidden homosexual urges leading to homophobia, or on why homosexuality is taboo to begin with. After the conclusion of the presentation, Professor Mathur provided additional background on the development of Queer Theory, from its origins at the Stonewall Inn Riots, to the coining of the term by Teresa de Laurentis, to its exposition by Foucault. Gay/Lesbian Studies originally branched off from the feminist movement, as lesbians within the movement during the 60s began to push for their own liberation. As Civil Rights were advanced, so did the Gay/Lesbian movement, and its new look at how sexuality functioned as well. By the time of Michel Foucault, the movement was ready to receive a literary bent, which sought to study sexuality and its placement within literature. Not necessarily seeking to create a homosexual canon, queer theory also concerns itself with ideas such as homosociality, and how human beings interact with one another. After receiving this information, the class concluded by applying this knowledge to analyzing the writings of Eve Kofosky Sedgwick and the novel She, and then a poem by Walt Whitman and a sonnet by William Shakespeare.