Social Norms and Social Power
AMST 118
Fall 2010
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
FGSS 119 |
This FYI is an interdisciplinary exploration of the privileges and penalties associated with "the normal" in the United States. We will think through the intersections of such categories of identity as race, ethnicity, religion, class, ability, gender, and sexuality in terms of social power: The ways regimes of normativity are produced, reproduced, and challenged by various social groups. Drawing on a wide range of genres, including novels, ethnographies, theory, memoirs, and films, we will pay particular attention to the ways bodily difference and social identity interarticulate with "normalness" to locate individuals within hierarchical power structures, and we will think creatively about ways to challenge this. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Interpretation
The class will encourage students to develop skills to analyze the key concepts "difference," norm and power across multiple genres--fiction, ethnography, film, theory, etc. This requires them both to develop their own interpretive frameworks and to understand those of our authors', who are often working from different subject positions and social locations.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS AMST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYI |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Eli Clare, EXILE AND PRIDE; Chrys Ingraham, WHITE WEDDINGS; Karen Brodkin, HOW JEWS BECAME WHITE FOLK; Michael Warner, THE TROUBLE WITH NORMAL; Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, NOBODY PASSES
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Examinations and Assignments:
In-class discussion, reading response papers, final paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Email me at mdweiss@wesleyan.edu for finalized list of course texts. |
| Instructor(s): Weiss,Margot Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: ZLKA202; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: -1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 19 |
| Web Resources: Syllabus |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 7 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 4 |
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