Critical Theories for Feminist Thinking

course description

what is feminism? what does it mean to think as a feminist? how is this critical posture still of political use, especially in this era of the post--post-modern, post-colonial, post-feminist? what kind of "theory" is feminist? why? why does feminism use theory? this course is designed first and foremost as a general introduction to the variety of analytic, theoretical and interpretative approaches that have generated feminist thinking and debate over the last twenty years.

the primary focus of the class will be how the critical thinking that gave rise to feminism as a public debate has changed and continues to reshape traditional approaches within other forms of study, such as literature, philosophy, anthropology, political science, film, video.

most centrally, however, the course is going to be guided by the question of how feminist critical thinking has changed, and continues to change, our understanding and enactment of the concept of intimacy, since more often than not intimacy is what we are all told that we need but do not have--or that we have but either in short supply, or, worse, we do not understand how to use it well or properly. further, we are often told that our survival and our solace depends upon achieving this "intimacy" and yet it is presented as the unachievable horizon, that which our "society" prevents.

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students will be asked to do the following: 1. write response papers 2. participate in discussion 3. take a mid-term 4. take a final exam. 

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required reading (all books are available at Iris Books, 375-7477, 802 West University Ave.)

Davis, Angela Y.     Women, Race & Class (Vintage)
Nicholson, Linda    The Second Wave: A Reader in Feminist Theory (Routledge)
Newman, Karen    Fetal Positions (Stanford)
Young-Bruehl, Elisabeth      Freud on Women (Norton)

other readings (hand-outs) will be provided by the instructor