Theorists: Sedgwick and Johnson/Fall 2008/ENG
3011/Sec. 5939
T 2-3, R 3
(8:30-10:25; 9:35-10:25) TUR 2346
Professor S. A. Smith/Office:
TUR 4348/Office Hours: Weds 1:00-4:00 and by appointment/email:
ssmith@ufl.edu/392-352-6650 x253
During the 1980’s and 90’s Eve
Kosofsky Sedgwick and Barbara Johnson emerged as two voices that
altered literary critical thinking. Sedgwick’s initial texts, Between
Men and Epistemology of the Closet were foundational for a new field:
queer studies. Barbara Johnson incorporated a variety of perspectives
into an interdisciplinary study as demonstrated in The Critical
Difference and A World of Difference. As a scholar, teacher, and
translator, Johnson helped make French philosopher Jacques Derrida
accessible to the United States at a time when they had just begun to
gain recognition in France. Deconstruction is, in Barbara Johnson's
phrase, "a careful teasing out of warring forces of signification
within the text."
Required
Reading List
Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Anna-Maria Jagose, Queer Theory: An Introduction
Henry James, “The Beast in
the Jungle”
Barbara Johnson, A World of Difference, Critical Difference
and Feminist Difference
Herman Melville, Billy Budd, Sailor
Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Epistemology of the Closet and Between Men
Requirements:
Reading responses; a mid-term
project, and a final paper; final grades will be assigned according to
numerical breakdown:
class participation
25%
reading responses:
25%
mid-term project:
20%
final paper:
30%
1.
Class participation means you will be in class, promptly WITH THE
READING. If you are more than 15 minutes late, DO NOT COME TO
CLASS; ditto if you don't have the reading. You have three days
of grace to be absent; after hat your grade will suffer 3 points off
the final grade for every day missed. Regular class attendance by
itself does not constitute good class participation—you are required to
add to class discussion, to answer questions, pose questions and do all
in class assignments.
2.
Reading responses: I will ask you specific questions to reflect
upon the work you have been reading. These will be graded S/U. You will
have one week from the day I hand back the journal page to revise it,
should you get a U. At the end of the semester, I will give you a
letter grade for the # of S's and U's you get. Here is how the letter
grade works: All S = A, 1 U, rest S=B etc.
3.
Mid-term and final TBA.The minimum requirement for a C is that your
writing be clear, coherent, and organized with no repeated faults in
grammar; higher grades depend upon the logical development of your
ideas, the nuance and strength of your analysis, etc. All written work,
with the exception of in-class, must printed on white, 8 1/2 x 11"
paper, with 1-inch margins on all sides; typeface must be legible,
10-12 picas.
WARNING: I regret having
to remind you that plagiarism is a serious offense. All students are
required to abide by the Academic Honesty Guidelines, which have been
accepted by the University. The academic community of students and
faculty at the University of Florida strives to develop, sustain and
protect an environment of honesty, trust and respect. Students are
expected to pursue knowledge with integrity. Exhibiting honesty in
academic pursuits and reporting violations of the Academic Honesty
Guidelines will encourage others to act with integrity. Violations of
the Academic Honesty Guidelines shall result in judicial action and a
student being subject to the sanctions in paragraph XIV of the Student
Conduct Code. The conduct set forth hereinafter constitutes a violation
of the Academic Honesty Guidelines (University of Florida Rule
6C1_4.017).For more information about academic honesty, including
definitions of plagiarism and collusion, see:
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/academic.php
Please turn off cell-phones
during class time; if you need to leave the classroom during class,
please be sure to and leave with discretion. You will be marked absent
if you are gone more than 10 minutes; unless you have an official
disability that requires laptop use in the class, please do not use
laptops during class; if you need sleep, please stay home and sleep;
please do not be rude, either to me, or to your fellow students. It is
the policy of The University of Florida to provide an educational and
working environment for its students, faculty and staff that is free
from sex discrimination and sexual harassment. In accordance with
federal and state law, the University prohibits discrimination on the
basis of sex, including sexual harassment. Sex discrimination and
sexual harassment will not be tolerated, and individuals who engage in
such conduct will be subject to disciplinary action. The University
encourages students, faculty, staff and visitors to promptly report sex
discrimination and sexual harassment. For more about the University of
Florida policies regarding harassment, see the University of Florida
Student Conduct Code at http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/conductcode.php
and policies regarding harassment at
http://wwwhr.ufl.edu/eeo/sexharassment.html
The Disability Resource Center
in the Dean of Students Office provides students and faculty with
information and support regarding accommodations for students with
disabilities in the classroom. Staff at the Disability Resource Center
will assist any student who registers as having a disability. Official
documentation of a disability is required to determine eligibility for
appropriate classroom accommodations. The professional employees at the
Disability Resource Program serve as full-time advocates for students
with disabilities ensuring students have physical and programmatic
access to all college programs. For more information about Student
Disability Services, see:
http://www.ufl.edu/disability/