Course Description

At the core of the course is the question how feminism has become a demonized and ridiculed “F-word” in an age when issues of gender and sexuality are at the center of constant, often explosive political debates. These debates often connect media representation and political representation but tend to do so in simplistic ways that bypass or distort decades of sophisticated feminist theory and practice. We will trace back such representations through the decades around case studies that encompass film, video, television and new media practices. The case studies come from the United States and beyond, taking into full account the global interconnectedness of media production and consumption as well as the transnational travel of feminist ideas. The main goal of the course is to evaluate how useful feminist thinking is to understanding the relays between media and political representation; and to develop a lasting critical apparatus to analyzing the politics of gender and sexuality in the media.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

Globalization and Flowers from Another World

In Flowers from Another World I found the representation of the women and their expected roles within the culture of the rural town genuine. However, I found the intentions behind their decision to attend the single's party or to move to Spain altogether much more authentic and telling about the structure of national identity and globalization in modern society, specifically in regards to Patricia. Patricia's decision to leave Latin America to find a husband and therefore security for her children speaks to potentials of globalization in finding financial and emotional stability in other countries. The institution and system of her own country failed her leaving her no choice but to travel illegally to Spain. However, once in Spain she can't find work because she could only leave the Dominican Republic with illegal papers. Again she uproots her life for the sake of her family based on the promise of a husband in rural Spain. I found this representation of Patricia's life and circumstances incredibly moving. For the sake of her family she was forced to travel illegally and the only possibility for her family's financial security is by marriage. She can't support herself independently because the institutionalized system doesn't allow her to do so. As Yuval-Davis discusses in "Gender and Nation," the construction of national identity and citizenship is largely influenced by gender. Yuval-Davis talks about the meaning and influence of the privileges given to women (or not) in their respective countries--a point very relevant to Patricia's struggle to find security for her family. She was not given any ground to stand on in the Dominican Republic after her husband left her and was forced to find opportunity across the world. I find Patricia's situation fascinating and telling in regards to women and the constructed institution of the nation-state in the modern world.


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