Feminist Theory of Literature - ENG 4393 001

AND

Feminist Theories – WS 4623.001

Spring 2010

Professor Norma E. Cantú

Time: Mondays 5:30-8:15 p.m Classroom: MB 1.104.

Telephone: 210-458-5134
Fax 21-458-5366
e-mail:
Office: MB 2.306 D / Office Hours: M 2-5 p.m.
Generally, as GAR of the doctoral program I am in my office on a daily basis and you can arrange to see me by appointment.

I. Course Descriptions:

For WS 4623: Feminist Theories: This course will introduce multidisciplinary explorations of theorists’ attempts to describe, explain and critique social institutions. Studies will examine theoretical positions on gender and women in the study of the humanities and/or social sciences. Topics may include the ways in which women have been represented in cultural production with special consideration of race ethnicity, class, sexuality and nationalism (Formerly WGS 4623. Credit cannot be earned for both WS 4623 and WGS 4623.)

For ENG 4393: Critical Study of feminist theory and the relationship of gender to literature. Selected readings from major theorists in connection with the study of literary texts.

(UTSA 2008-2010Undergraduate Catalog).

II. Conceptual Framework:

This course is the required course for the WS Major or Minor and an advanced course in the study of literature in the ENG Major or Minor. Since it is a cross-listed course, we will blend the expectations and requirements for both courses. I have added my own pedagogical beliefs about women’s studies and theoretical frames for the study of literature to structure the learning environment around three main objectives as described below. My goal is that we will have a fun and productive semester with activities, readings, engaged discussion and ways of communicating our work through writing, speaking and via web-based postings.

We begin with major questions that face anyone doing women’s studies work and work our way through readings, films and discussions to arrive at answers—maybe not definitive answers, but answers nonetheless—to these questions. In order for students to become scholars and serious students of literature—and of women’s studies, I believe they must be familiar with the history of our discipline; they must be able to contextualize critical approaches historically; situate texts within critical debates in the discipline; and finally, I believe we must all continue to engage texts informed by critical approaches—theories, if you will—ever vigilant of the ways hegemonic discourse can silence marginal voices. I am using the word “text” in a very liberal fashion to include films, performances and other cultural expressions.

Thus, the “readings” for the class will include literary texts, such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and films such as “Señorita Extraviada,” and performances such as Vicky Grise’s and Teatro Chicana performances, and perhaps even events like Women’s History Month. We will use a feminist lens to study these “texts” and participate in creating our own texts as well.

In addition to the students coming to the study of literature from an interdisciplinary focus, I trust that participants in the class will arrive at their own answers to the questions raised by the class. A student in this class is perforce a student of history, of culture, of the humanities in general and is open to the study of women and gender from a social science disciplinary view. So, I encourage engaged scholarship and will welcome student projects that work theory into praxis. Finally, our class will use the Blackboard space for various aspects of the class—posting of syllabus, submission of papers.

I have opened a Facebook page that will only be open to our class; we can join as a closed group and share information about class and our activities as well as post updates and announcements. While our syllabus and readings will be posted on Blackboard, we will not use it daily; however, we will use it to turn in ALL writing assignments—formal and informal.

III. Goals and Objectives:

Class participants will:

  • Become familiar with the major theories in the study of gender and sexuality,
  • Engage in dialogue with class members around the texts and the critical essays read for the class. (see rubric for class participation and discussion),
  • Produce writings—both formal and informal--that are of the caliber of a senior in college. (see Rubric for informal and formal writing),
  • Use technology to communicate ideas and to gather resources.

IV. Instructional Activities:

Lectures:

I will introduce themes, topics or general areas of discussion for each class period with brief lectures.

During the class, participants will engage in collaborative learning activities and will experience a variety of pedagogical approaches.

Participants will engage in various readings, Facebook activities, visit web sites, and view videos as assigned.Individual and group presentations on readings outside of the general reading list will enhance the participants’ exposure to a number of critical approaches and perspectives.

  • Readings:VII Schedule indicates when the Assigned Readings are due. The Readings include the following and selected essays and articles.

Textbooks:

Elizabeth Kowalski, Ed / Encyclopedia of Feminist Literary Theory
bell hooks / Feminist Theory
Julie Bates Dock, Ed /

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wall-Paperand the History of Its Publication and Reception - A Critical Edition and Documentary Casebook (The Penn State Series in the History of the Book)

Latina Feminist Research Group / Telling to Live: Latina Feminist Testimonios
Gloria Anzaldúa / Borderlands/La Frontera: the New Mestiza
Emma Pérez / Forgetting the Alamo, or Blood Memory

Films:

Sleep Dealers, Alex Rivera

Señorita Extraviada, Lourdes Pérez,

Required Assignments (See rubrics for each assignment):

Roll Call exercises (5 points): At the beginning of each class, two participants will be asked to recall what was discussed in the previous class and introduce the topic for discussion that week. This could be achieved by introducing a question on a particular theme, topic or concept from the assigned readings for that day. Working with a partner will also fulfill an affective level objective.

Face Book and Blackboard participation (10 points): Students are encouraged to post links relevant to our class discussions and readings. At least 5substantive postings in response to current events or other “texts” (such as films viewed for class) willgrant full credit and fulfill part of the technology learning objective for the class.

Class Participation (5 points): Adequate participation will be determined by the professor; generally comments and contributions to discussion will fulfill the objective of oral communication of ideas and grant full credit.

Brief Summary (5 points): As assigned on the syllabus, participants will be responsible for ONEone-page summary of critical essays as assigned using the 3-2-1 content method. Participants will provide copies of the summary for all members of the class on the date that they “present” their summaries.

Critical Review(10 points)ONE brief review (3-4 pages) of an assigned essay that will include the following: brief summary, strengths and weaknesses of the argument, and an evaluation that answers the questions provided in the guidelines for writing a Critical Review.

Paper or Project (1 X 20 points): 8-10 page paper or a major project such as a web site or a project at a community center. Must be approved by the instructor. The paper must follow the MLA Style; both project plan and paper must include a works cited or a bibliography.

Midterm and Final Examinations (2 X 20 = 40 points)the examinations will more than likely be take home short essays and in-class multiple choice exams that will test the students grasp of concepts and basic knowledge of feminist theories. I will prepare study guides and also provide a list of key terms that will be covered in the class.

V. Policies

Grading Policies: Grades will be contingent on the completion of the various competencies at the usual level (90-100%=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; 59 or below= F). A maximum of 3 BONUS points will be added to the final average for additional participation in relevant extra-curricular events such as attendance at conferences, talks, readings, etc. as approved by the Professor. The Attendance at Extra-Curricular Event Form must be turned in and the professor must approve the extra-curricular event at least ONE WEEK AFTER attending the event. Plan your schedule accordingly. No extra credit will be awarded for events held during the class period.

ACTIVITYPOSSIBLE POINTS

POINTS AWARDED

Roll Call10

Brief Summary (1 X 5 points) 5

Critical Review(1 X 10 points)10

Participation in FB and Blackboard10

Participation in Class discussion 5

Paper or Project20

Mid Term20

Final20

TOTAL: 100 points

Maximum Extra points 3

VI. Other Policies

  • Cellular phones and lap tops must be turned off during class.
  • No late papers or assignments will be accepted without prior approval of the professor.LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE PENALIZED ONE LETTER GRADE, SO IF THE GRADE EARNED IS A “B” THE ENTERED GRADE WILL BE A “C” FOR A LATE ASSIGNMENT.
  • Students must connect to Blackboard and the class Facebook page by the second scheduled class meeting.
  • All work presented in class or turned in must be a student's own wok. Plagiarism or any other form of academic misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the University's published rules and regulations; such conduct could result in the student’s dismissal and/or receiving a failing grade for the course.
  • If you have a learning disability requiring special arrangements for completing assignments, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make the proper arrangements.


VII. Schedule

Jan 11—Introductions and Expectations

Roll Call: Cantú

Introductions (participants, professor)

Discussion: Expectations

Key Words: Women’s Studies, Theory, Feminisms, Literature, texts

Group Activity: Hopes and Expectations: Constructing a Syllabus and Agenda

Informal Writing Assignment—A Photograph as Evidence of Who I am

Jan 18 —Martin Luther King Day March

Jan 25—Herstories and Theories

Roll Call: Nicole Alvarez and Chelsea Balderas

  • Lecture: The Roots of Feminist Theory
  • Class Discussion/Presentations: Power Point Slides

Group Activity: Setting up a time line for ourselves and our life formations

Writing: Turn in revised Informal Writing Assignment #1: A Photograph as Evidence of Who I Am

Jan 26—Alex Rivera and Sleep Dreamers at Trinity University 7 p.m.

Feb 1–(Her)stories

Roll Call:Rosita Chavez and Lauria Henderson

  • Reading (and Critique): “Enlightenment Liberal Feminism” from Feminist Theory: The Intellectual Traditions of American Feminism. Josephine Donovan, ed. New York: Continuum, 1990, 1-30.
  • Martha Cotera, Chicana Feminisms
  • Activity: Mapping our story

Feb 4 Dominicanish video Installation reading-dialogue with performer, poet and writers Josefina Baez 7 p.m. Ruth Tayolr room 113

Feb 8—Drawing Conclusions/Developing Theory

Roll Call: Tyler Colwell and Jessica Pine

  • Reading: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wall-Paperand the History of Its Publication and Reception - A Critical Edition and Documentary Casebook (The Penn State Series in the History of the Book) Julie Bates Dock, Ed.
Feb 15— Continued Discussion on Gilman/ The Power of Love

Roll Call: Jane Dare and Anaissa Martínez

  • Readings: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wall-Paperand the History of Its Publication and Reception - A Critical Edition and Documentary Casebook (The Penn State Series in the History of the Book) Julie Bates Dock, Ed
  • Chela Sandoval, Methodology of the Oppressed, chapter (on Blackboard)
  • Writing: The Power of Love
Feb 22— Cultural Studies and Feminist Theory

Roll Call: Calvin Hoovestol

Plan for the Women’s March--Let us march as a group—any ideas about a T-shirt? A banner?

Readings: “Can the Subaltern Speak?” on Blackboard

Activity:

Mar 1–

Roll Call:Yvette Mata and Michael Pham

Reading: Marxism and Feminist Theory

Chela Sandoval (on Blackboard)

Activity:

Mar 6—
Mar 8—International Women’s Day—Let’s Celebrate! Study! Read!

Roll Call: Hearin Neuner and Fabrine Salas

Lecture: Non-western Epistemologies: Native American and African American Feminist Theories

Readings:

  • Paula Gunn Allen, “Kochinnenako in Academe: Three Approaches to Interpreting a Keres Indian Tale” (on Blackboard)
  • bell hooks, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
  • Writing: Preparing a précis for a paper or a proposal for a project

March 11 Deborah Miranda, Native American writer (WHM event)

Mar 15—SPRING BREAK
Mar 22—Queer Theory

Roll Call: Tawnee Oxtra and

Guest Professor: Dr. Lenora Perry-Samaniego

  • Readings:
  • Emma Pérez, Forgetting the Alamo or Blood Memory (UT Austin, 2009)
  • The Decolonial Imaginary, Chapter (on Blackboard)

March 26—Women Poets Read Women Poets– Part of Women’s History Month Activities: Drs. Barker, Cantú, and Lyons

Mar 28—Emma Pérez and Maria Cotera at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center

Mar 29— Performance

  • Roll Call:Lahnee Paschen and Ginger Ramírez
  • Lecture: Feminist Theories of Performance
  • Turn in Précis for Paper or Abstract for Project
  • Performance: Vicky Grise, U of Minnesota (Women’s History Month Event)
April 5—Testimonio as Feminist Practice
Roll Call: Erica San Pedro and Rosita Chávez
  • Lecture: Testimonio and the power of story—
  • FeministTheories of Narrative
  • Reading: Introduction to Telling to Live: Latina Feminist Testimonios
  • Discussion:
  • Turn in Précis for paper or Proposal for Project to peer reviewer/editor—spend 20 minutes reviewing the elements for assessment
April 12 Border Theory and Feminism
  • Roll Call: Veronica Salinas and Lorna Weis
  • Reading: Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands la Frontera/ the New Mestiza. San Francisco: Aunt Lute, 1987. (Check Assignment Sheet for section you will be responsible for in the discussion)
  • Performance: Teatro Chicana Performance
April 19– Violence against Women
Roll Call: Jo Ann Tripis and Elizabeth Rodríguez
Reading: Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood, chapter(in Blackboard)
  • Film: Señorita Extraviada
Return Précis/Proposal review to students
April 26 – Papers/Projects Due

Roll Call:

  • Topic: Theories
  • Feminist Theories of Literature
  • Feminist Theories in General

May 3 – FINAL EXAMINATION/CELEBRATION

Celebration and Conclusions

Public Event Presenting our Work