Week 1: Jan 7  Introduction: Feminist CyberPopCult

Introduction to the course syllabus and discussion of Frances Bonner, Lizbeth Goodman, Richard Allen, Linda Janes and Catherine King , eds. Imagining Women: Cultural Representations and Gender London: Open University Press, 1992: 1-19. See notes re: Imagining Women
See Feminist Cyber Resources

Week 2: Jan 14   Sexing the Mall

With reference to a short video and an essay on the West Edmonton Mall, we will begin to think about how we come to know popular culture. Some of the concerns we will continue to examine later in the course include issues of autobiography and cultural criticism, the "politics of location", ''high & low'' culture, the public and private spheres, the gaze, etc.

Nancy Miller. ''Getting Personal: Autobiography as Cultural Criticism.'' Getting Personal: Feminist Occasions and Other Autobiographical Acts. New York: Routledge, 1991: 1-30. .

Frances Bonner, Lizbeth Goodman, Richard Allen, Linda Janes and Catherine King , eds. Imagining Women: Cultural Representations and Gender London: Open University Press, 1992: 1-19.
        (review from first class discussion)

Janice Williamson "Notes on Storyville North: Circling West Edmonton Mall." LifeStyle Shopping: The Subject of Consumption. Ed. Rob Shields. London: Routledge, 1992: 216-232.

Williamson "Pedestrian Notes on West Edmonton Mall (18min)

Week 3: Jan 21 Workshop: Surfing the Feminist Web

Background Reading: John Storey. "Feminism." An Introductory Guide to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Athens: U of Georgia P, 1993: 125-153

Guest speaker: Dr. Barbara Crow, Chair, Women's Studies, University of Calgary

Week 4: Jan 28 Feminist Representation & Popular Culture I

Thinking Representation & Race

bell hooks "Representing Whiteness in the Black Imagination." Cultural Studies. Ed. Lawrence Grossberg, Cary Nelson & Paula Treichler. London, Routledge, 1992.

Stuart Hall. "Chapter 1: The Work of Representation." Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. Ed. Stuart Hall. London: Sage, 1997: 1-30

Week 5: Feb 4  Feminist Representations & Popular Culture II

Stuart Hall. "Chapter 1: The Work of Representation." Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. Ed. Stuart Hall. London: Sage, 1997: 30-63.

Background readings:
(Note: these essays will not be discussed in class, but will provide several points in the lecture part of the class)

Tania Modleski "Femininity as mas(s)querade: a feminist approach to mass culture''

Raymond Williams "Base & Superstructure in Marxist Theory"

 

Week 6: Feb 11  Feminisms/Performances /Communities

Our class will include a discussion of the past performances of Shawna Dempsey & Laurie Millan, as well as a critical readings of several poems by Louise Halfe. We will focus especially on the political uses of humour.

 
Jo Anne Isaak. "The Revolutionary Power of Women's Laughter." Feminism and Contemporary Art: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Laughter. London: Routledge, 1996. 

several videos by Shawna Dempsey & Laurie Millan

Background Events:

A Reading & Conversation with poet Louise Halfe will be held on Monday February 7 at the University of Alberta (date & time & location t.b.a.) Note: this is not a course requirement, but recommended. No admission charge.

A Performance by Shawna Dempsey & Laurie Millan will be held at Catalyst Theatre. Our class will attend the performance and adjourn to a nearby location for a discussion with the performers. Details of special group ticket prices will be announced when available.

Week 7: Feb 18     Reading Week

Week 8: Feb 21   The Public Sphere I: The Case of Jane Gallop

Jane Gallop Feminist Accused of Sexual Harassment. Durham: Duke UP, 1997.
(Purchase this book at Orlando Books 10640 Whyte Avenue (492-7633))

   Electronic discussion netsite with Jane Gallop TBA

Background Screening:

Disclosure

 

Week 9: Feb 28  Fans/Readers/Viewers

 Ien Ang. "Dallas and the ideology of mass culture." The CulturalStudies Reaer. Ed. Simon During. London: Routledge, 1993: 403-420.

Constance Penley. "Feminism, Psychoanlysis, and the Study of Popular Culture." Cultural Studies. Eds. Lawrence Grossberg et al. London: Routledge, 1992: 479-500.

Week 10 March 4   The Canadian Public Sphere II: The Case of Barbara Amiel

 Maude Barlow & The Big Black Book
(Purchase this book at Orlando Books 10640 Whyte Avenue (492-7633))

 
Week 11: March 11   Sexuality, Feminisms  & Representation

 Draft of essay due

Elspeth Probyn. "Queer Belongings: The Politics of Departure." Sexy Bodies: The Strange Carnalities of Feminism. Eds. Elizabeth Grosz and Elspeth Probyn. London: Routledge, 1995: 1-18.

Laura Kipnis. ''(Male) Desire and (Female) Disgust: Reading Hustler." Ecstasy Unlimited: On Sex, Capital, Gender and Aesthetics. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1993.

bell hooks. ''Selling Hot Pussy:Representations of Black female Sexuality in the Cultural Marketplace." Black Looks: race and representation.Toronto: Between the Lines, 1992: 61-77.

Background screening:

Forbidden Love (NFB)

Week 12: March 18 Group Presentations

Reader's reports due

Week 13: March 25 Group Presentations

Week 14: April 1 Group Presentations

Final draft of essay due  

Week 15: April 8 Roundtable Discussion/Review

Final examination due April 15

 

Note re: Schedule

The schedule is deliberately constructed with breathing spaces at the end of the term. This will allow us to proceed at our own pace. Should we require additional time on any of the selected texts, we will change the syllabus accordingly. Should we require additional essays, we will add selected readings as we require them. The objective of this flexibility is to ensure that we have time to develop our analysis of the texts and to extend our critical skills. Students are required to keep up with the reading and to make themselves aware of any changes in the schedule through regular attendance. Please exchange your telephone number with another student in the class so that you will have a buddy with whom you can share information should you be unable to attend class due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances.