WMST 380b - Queer Theory

Institution:

Vassar College

Subject:

Description:

The western cultural paradigm of sexual orientation has many origins. In particular, this course investigates those coming out of psychoanalysis and science-two of the dominant sources of social knowledge prevalent in our culture. We explore the view that all sexual behaviors, all concepts linking sexual behaviors to sexual identities, and all categories of "normal" and "deviant" sexualities, are social constructs, sets of signifiers which create certain types of social meaning. We see that queer theory follows feminist theory and lesbian and gay studies in rejecting the idea that sexual orientation is an essentialist category, something determined by biology or judged by eternal standards of morality and truth. We try to argue that sexuality is a complex array of social codes and forces, forms of individual activity and institutionalized power relations, which interact to shape the notions of what is "normal" what is "natural," "essential" or "biological." Aside from readings in both science of sex, gender, and sexual orientation and psychoanalysis, we read theoretical texts which help guide us toward a more accurate understanding of what we mean by the term 'queer,' what we regard as the criteria for labeling a sexual activity queer, in short, the ontology of queer or what queer is. Ms. Robertson, MWomen's Studies 130 and relevant 200-level course desirable. Special permission. One 2-hour meeting per week. Not offered in 2008/09.

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.vassar.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 437-7000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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