WGSS 306 - Queer of Color Critique

Institution:

Williams College

Subject:

Women's, Gender & Sexuality

Description:

This advanced seminar introduces students to queer of color critique, a mode of queer theory emphasizing diverse experiences, geographies, and epistemologies that also foregrounds the intersection of sexual and racial constructs. We will examine the history of this line of critique, exploring how and why it became a necessary intervention into the then still emerging field of queer studies. In addition to theoretical works, we also examine literary and cinematic works that exemplify and enact queer of color critique. We will read major works by those individuals who established the discipline, thereby surveying works from a variety of fields including critical race studies, literary theory, anthropology, feminist/womanist studies, ethnic studies, postcolonial studies, area studies, and others. Much of this early work in queer of color critique is North American in context, but we will also explore more recent scholarship that deals with transnational contexts and applications and examine how queer of color critique contributed to the emergence of transnational queer studies. A key feature of this course will be its uniquely dialogic structure that will allow a variety of diverse authors and artists to appear virtually to answer questions about their published work as well as some emerging scholars in the field who will share their experiences finding their way into this area of study and how they developed research and artistic projects. This course meets the requirements of the Exploring Diversity Initiative in that it focuses on empathetic understanding, power and privilege, and critical theorization, especially in relation class, gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity in both the US and global comparative contexts.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.williams.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 597-3131

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

The Course Profile information is provided and updated by third parties including the respective institutions. While the institutions are able to update their information at any time, the information is not independently validated, and no party associated with this website can accept responsibility for its accuracy.