Course Description
This course will study a diverse selection of 19th-century women's fiction from the perspective of contemporary feminist theory and, conversely, explore the current debates in feminist theory by extending them to women's fiction. The course will provide both an introduction to the emerging "canon" of 19th-century women's fiction and a solid grounding in contemporary feminist theory, especially poststructuralist feminism and cultural studies.
Texts
Judith Fetterly, ed., _Provisions: A Reader from 19th-Century American Women_
Susan Koppleman, ed. _Two Friends and Other 19th Century Lesbian Stories by American Women Writers_
Louisa May Alcott, _Alternative Alcott_
Maria Susanna Cummins, _The Lamplighter_
Pauline E. Hopkins, _Contending Forces_
Catherine Sedgwick, _Hope Leslie_
E.D.E.N. Southworth, _The Hidden Hand: Or Capitola the Madcap_
Elizabeth Stoddard, _The Morgesons_
Warren, Joyce W. ed. _The (Other) American Traditions: Nineteenth Century Women Writers_
Packet of feminist theory and criticism.
Requirements
First, I expect every member of the seminar to be well prepared for each meeting and to actively participate in the discussion. At miminum, each person should come to class with at least one discussion question and at least one exploratory yet thought-through commentary, critique, comparison, or analysis. Two 20-minute seminar presentations and a 25-page seminar paper will also be required.
Syllabus
Week 1, January 17.
Feminist Theory I: Introduction, Histories, and Current Debates
Linda Alcoff, "Cultural Feminism Versus Poststructuralism: The Identity Crisis in Feminist Theory;" Ann Snitow, "A Gender Diary;" Elizabeth Weed, "Introduction: Terms of Reference."
Week 2, January 24
Feminist Theory II. Does "Woman" Exist?: Poststructuralist Feminist Theory and Anti-Essentialist Politics
Judith Butler, "Preface" and "Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire,"(both from _Gender Trouble_) and "Contingent Foundations: Feminism and the Question of 'Postmodernism;" Judith Butler and Joan W. Scott, "Introduction" (to _Feminists Theorize the Political_); Joan W. Scott, "Gender as a Useful Category of Historical Analysis;" Diana Fuss, "Lesbian and Gay Theory: The Question of Identity Politics;" bell hooks, "Marginality as a Site of Resistance."
Week 3, January 31
Feminist Criticism of Nineteenth-Century Women's Novels: Canonicity and the Challenge to Literary History
Jane Tompkins, "Introduction: The Cultural Work of American Fiction;" Nina Baym, "Introduction and Conclusions" and "The Form and Ideology of Woman's Fiction"(both from _Woman's Fiction_); Paul Lauter, "Teaching Nineteenth-Century Women Writers;" Joyce W. Warren, "Introduction: Canons and Canon Fodder;" Joanne Dobson, "The American Renaissance Reconsidered;""(Lauter, Warren, and Dobson in _The (Other) American Traditions_).
Recommended: Jane Tompkins, "The Other American Renaissance," and "'But is it Any Good?': The Institutionalization of Literary Value" in _Sensational Designs._
Week 4, February 7
Sentimentalism and the Question of Literary Value
Maria Susanna Cummins, _The Lamplighter_; Shirley Samuels, "Introduction" to _The Culture of Sentiment;_ Susan K. Harris, "'But is it any Good': Evaluating Nineteenth-Century American Women's Fiction"(in _The (Other) American Traditions_); Jane Tompkins, "Sentimental Power: _Uncle Tom's Cabin _ and the Politics of Literary History."
Week 5, February 14
Feminist Theory III: Cultural Studies and Feminist Materialism
Monique Wittig, "One is Not Born a Woman;" Chantal Mouffe, "The Sex/Gender System and the Discursive Construction of Women's Subordination;" Stuart Hall, "Cultural Studies and its Theoretical Legacies;" Teresa Ebert, "Ludic Feminism, the Body, Performance, and Labor: Bringing _Materialism _ Back into Feminist Cultural Studies."
Recommended: Hazel Carby, "Slave and Mistress: Ideologies of Womanhood under Slavery."
Week 6, February 21
Women's Work and Feminist Materialism
Louisa May Alcott, _Work_, Rebecca Harding Davis, "Life in the Iron Mills" (in _Provisions_), Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, "The Angel Over the Right Shoulder" (in _Provisions_); Amy Schrager Lang, "Class and the Strategy of Sympathy;" Susan K. Harris, "Narrative Control and Thematic Radicalism in _Work _ and _The Silent Partner_."
Week 7, February 28
Race, Gender, and Cultural Studies
Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins, _Contending Forces_, Carla L. Peterson, "'Doers of the Word': Theorizing African-American Women Writers in the Antebellum North," (in _The (Other_)); Hazel Carby, "Woman's Era: Rethinking Black Feminist Theory," and "'Of What Use is Fiction: Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins."
Week 8, March 7
Indians, White Feminists, and Postcolonial Theory
Catherine Sedwick, _Hope Leslie _; Homi K. Bhabha, "The Other Question: Stereotype, Discrimination and the Discourse of Colonialism."
March 14. Spring Break
Week 9., March 21
Lesbian(?) Fictions, Queer Theories
Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, "The Female World of Love and Ritual: Relations Between Women in Nineteenth-Century America;" Teresa de Lauretis, "The Seductions of Lesbianism: Feminist Psychoanalytic Theory and the Maternal Imaginary;" Luce Irigaray, "When Our Lips Speak Together." Susan Koppleman, _Two Friends: And Other Nineteenth-Century Lesbian Stories by American Women Writers:_ Preface, Introduction, Epigraphs, and the following stories: Rose Terry, "My Visitation," Constance Fenimore Woolson, "Felipa," Kate Chopin, "The Falling in Love of Fedora: A Sketch."
Recommended: Lillian Faderman, _Surpassing the Love of Men,_ Part II and and Sarah Orne Jewett, "Martha's Lady" (in Koppleman).
Week 10, March 28
Transgressive Vestments and Gender Performativity
E.D.E.N Southworth, _The Hidden Hand:_ Judith Butler, "Conclusion: From Parody to Politics" (from _Gender Trouble_), and "Gender is Burning: Questions of Appropriation and Subversion"(from _Bodies that Matter_).
Highly Recommended: Watch "Paris is Burning."
Week 11, April 4
Parodic Mimeses, Subversive Masks
Lydia Sigourney, "The Father" (in _Provisions_); Louisa May Alcott, _Behind the Mask_ ; Luce Irigaray, "The Power of Discourse and the Subordination of the Feminine," "Cosi Fan Tutti. "
Recommended: Luce Irigaray, "Women on the Market" (in _This Sex_)
Week 12, April 11
Elizabeth Stoddard, _The Morgesons _
Susan K. Harris, "Projecting the I/Iconoclast: First Person Narration in _The Morgesons._"
Week 13, April 18
_The Morgesons,_ continued and The Body:
Susan R Bordo. "The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity: A Feminist Appropriation of Foucault."
Week 14 April 25
Final Paper Presentations, Workshops
Week 15, May 2
Presentations, Conclusions, Course Evaluations
Literature Seminars
Literature HP & Program
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