WMS 360 LESBIAN AND GAY STUDIES KAY BRANAGAN
FALL 2004 HAWKINS 102-B
Hawkins 135 - MWF: Noon kay.branagan@plattsburgh.edu
OFFICE HOURS MW 9:30-10:00
2:30-3:00 FAX: 564-4226 TEL#: X 42449
F 9:00-10:00
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COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To consider the related question:
(a) What causes a person to be gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, or
transgendered?
(b) And who cares?
2. To begin to understand what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
transgendered in a society that stigmatizes these areas of the sexual
orientation spectrum.
3. To explore patterns of sexual orientation across cultures and in different his-
torical periods.
4. To question how relevant the 20-21st Century Western model of homosexuality
is to other cultures and historical periods.
5. To challenge the myth of homosexuality as a white social phenomena and to
find voices for BLGT communities of colour.
6. To explore human rights issues within a number of contemporary societies.
TEXTS:
Electronic Web Reserve WMS360 code wms360 (lower case, no spaces); articles should be downloaded and brought to class on the date assigned.
Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues. Alyson, 2003.
Mable Maney, Ghost in the Closet. Cleis Press.
Dan Savage, The Kid: An Adoption Story. Dutton, 1999.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE:
Class attendance and INFORMED participation (this means all articles will be read prior to the assigned class) are an essential part of the learning process. Two (2) unexcused absences will be allowed without penalty. (Please note that ‘penalty’ means LOWERED GRADE.) Excused absences must be in writing from the proper authorities. This particular course is set up as a seminar. Therefore, oral class participation and discussion of the readings is necessary. In addition, students are expected to attend any programs at the college or in the community which will further the class’s knowledge and understanding of the course content.
EVALUATION;
Book/Analysis I 20%
Book/Analysis II 20%
Book/Analysis III 20%
Presentation/Paper 20%
Class Work 20%
GRADING:
Grading will be based on the following criteria:
A, A- Analysis is well reasoned and concise; description is
succinct. (The more articulate the paper, the higher
the grade point.)
B+,B,B- Analysis is weak and/or rambling; description is
succinct. (The stronger the analysis, the higher the
grade point.)
C+,C,C- Over use of description with poor analysis.
D+, D, E No analysis, plagiary.
SHORT PAPERS:
A short clear and concise analysis of the articles assigned, to be used as a basis for class discussion. These papers will be either individual or group, as assigned. In-class work will be neatly handwritten; all others must be typed or PRINTED in order to receive full credit. All papers are due on the date assigned. If the student cannot attend class that day, s/he may turn the paper in early, e-mail, fax or mail it, or have it delivered by another student. Except for extenuating circumstances, absence from class is not sufficient reason to hand in a paper late.
BOOK ANALYSIS:
A three to five page paper that deals with specific topics discussed in class and answers specific questions provided by the instructor. This is NOT a general or generic book review. Specifics TBA.
SHORT RESEARCH PAPER:
Besides the criteria listed under SHORT PAPERS, this will include a bibliography of a minimum of one book and six articles. Statistics will be analyzed and various arguments will be presented and evaluated. Four to five pages in length.
TOPICS:
The Military
The Role of Religion
Marriage, Civil Union, & Domestic Partnerships
Pop Culture
FILMS (TO BE SELECTED FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST):
As the course progresses, films relevant to the material under consideration will be shown. They will be selected from the following list:
Looking for Langston The Celluloid Closet
Two in Twenty Framing Lesbian Fashion
Tongues United Forbidden Love
These films were previewed, evaluated, and selected for class viewing in order to expand upon the materials being presented and to allow students to understand the impact on people. Participating students who find these films objectionable are not required to attend the viewing but they will be responsible for an alternative assignment.
PLAGIARY:
Plagiary is using the words and/or ideas of others and failing to credit them in your writings. Direct quotes and paraphrasing the ideas MUST be noted in your bibliography. Plagiary is also copying, in whole or in part, a paper submitted by another student or copying off the Internet. If I discover an incident of plagiary, the student will be given an “E” grade and will, in addition, be required to complete an additional assignment. Sorry, being “stressed” is not an excuse for plagiary.
ADDENDA:
All out of class work must by typewritten, double-spaced with standard margins. It must be handed in at the beginning of the class period on the day the assignment is due. If the student cannot be in class, papers may be e-mailed, faxed, or delivered by another student. Late papers, unless there are extenuating circumstances, will not receive full credit. Requests for consideration MUST be in writing. Making arrangements for making up missed work is the responsibility of the student.
Any changes in the requirements i.e., writing assignments and/or evaluation criteria, of the course will be made known to participating students through verbal announcements in class and distributed addenda.
If you cannot make class, please notify me beforehand, either by telephone or e-mail, in order that arrangements can be made for any missed work or material.
DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS
8/23 Introduction Syllabus
8/25 Theorizing Identities *Migrancy and Male
Sexuality in the South
African Gold Mines
8/27 Theorizing the Identities *Strange Country This
The Native American Exp. *Must be DeRacinate
Indians to Find Gay Roots?
*I Am Not Your Princess
*Sex/Gender Systems in
North America
8/30 Historical Perspectives *She Even Chewed Tobacco
‘Passing Women’ *Lesbian Chic: Experimen-
Queen Christina-excerpts tation & Repression in the
‘20’s
9/1-9/6-9/8 Tipping the Velvet
9/10 Nature
vs. Nurture *Queer Science: Hormones
*Gay Flies
*Biology My Ass
*Go The Way Your Blood
Beats
9/13 Race & Representation *Bruce Nugent: Bohemian of
1920’s/1930’s the Harlem Renaissance
Looking for Langston *Undressing Icons
9/15 Continuation {Begin reading Stone Butch
Discussion Blues and use with the
following discussions}
9/17 McCarthy Era *The Military and Lesbians
during the McCarthy Years
Paper #1 Group A Due *Hunting Sex Perverts
*Growth of Overt Homo-
sexuality in City Provokes
Wide Concerns
*The Homosexual Commun-
ity
9/20 Bar Culture *Voices From Lesbian
Herstory
Paper #1 Group B Due *The Development of the
Homosexual Bar as an
Institution
*Working Class and Young
Lesbians: The Gay Bar
9/22 Butch-Femme *Butch-Femme
Relationships : Sexual
Courage in the 1950’s
Paper #1 Group C Due *Butch-Femme and the
Politics of Identity
*They Was No One to Mess
With:
*What We’re Rolling Around
in Bed With
9/23 Les
Feinberg *Beyond
Pink & Blue
9/24 Discussion
9/27 *Lesbian Herstory
Fem Identity in the 1940’s
& 1950’s
*Fishes in a Pond
9/29 Analysis I Due Stone Butch Blues
NO LATE PAPERS!
10/1 Before Stonewall
10/4 Lesbian – Feminism *Separating
Lesbian Theory from
Feminist Theory
10/6 Framing Lesbian Fashion
10/8 Michigan Women’s Music Handouts
Festival *What is This Controversy
All About?
10/13-10/15 Ma Vie En Rose *Transgender Warriors
*Read My Lips
Paper #2 Group A Due *Straddling Sexes
*Time For a Good Trans-
gender Story
*An Other-Gendered Boy
*Melanie: My Story
*Confessions of a She-Male
Merchant Marine
10/20 Discussion Continued
10/22 Queering Feminity *Drag Queens &
Feminine
*It Takes Ballz
Paper #2 Group B Due *Blessed Be
*Marilyn, Mayhem & The
Mantrap
*The Negro Scarlett O’Hara
*Letting It all Hang Out
*”The Queens” (1972)
10/25 Discussion Continued
10/27 Queering Masculinity *Drag King Magic
*Lesbian Drag Kings
Paper #2 Group C Due *Raging Bull (Dyke): New
Masculinities
10/29 Bisexuality *What Do Bisexuals Want?
*Identities: Lesbian & Bi
Paper #2 Due Group D *Double Lives on the Down
Low
*My Man Was on the Down
Low (Part I & II)
11/1 Guest Speaker
11/3 Book Analysis II Due Ghost In the Closet
11/5 Public Sex *Tearoom Trade (1970)
*Public Sex (1982)
11/8 Military Presentation
11/10 Civil Union, etc.
Presentation
11/12 The Role of Religion
Presentation
11/15 Pop Culture
Presentation
11/17 Pop Culture
Presentation
11/19 Queer Theory TBA
11/22 Tongues Untied *Marlon Riggs Untied
*Poem/Tongues Untied
11/29 Papa and Daddy *Artificial Assimilation
12/1 Discussion
12/3 Current Political Issues Handouts
12/7 Finals Week 2 Hour Class
Discussion Analysis III
The
Kid and Queering Patriarchy