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.


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Teaching Project Topic: Popular Music and Post-Feminism

Izzy Albert and I are collaborating on a teaching project that focuses on the relationship between popular music and post-feminism. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or if you would be interested in collaborating with us.
 
An article by Kelsey Wallace at Bitch Media in 2009 raised the question: "Are there any pop stars out there right now who are holding it down for feminism? Where have all the riot grrrls gone?" She then refers to an article written in the Houston Chronicle that mentions the association of artists like The Veronicas, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga with a "post-feminist" label "without there being much evidence for the claim."

In our teaching project, we will address Wallace's question outright by first exploring feminist icons of generations past and the reasons behind their their feminist associations. Then, we will address icons that are frequently associated with post-feminism today (Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce) and address potential aspects that have often placed them within a post-feminist mindset. Lastly, we will look to the class to assist in establishing a profile of what a musician must accomplish in order to accurately represent the post-feminist outlook and create a list of artists who may uphold that profile.

"Where Have All The Riot Grrls Gone? Pop Music And Post-Feminism"
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/where-have-all-the-riot-grrrls-gone-pop-music-and-post-feminism

-Marisa Okano
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