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EL 5075:Neoliberalism and Sexuality (新自由主義與性政治)
Professor Amie Parry
SPRING 2014
Time: Mon 09:00-11:50
Place: C2-437
Office A218;extension 33215
amie.parry@gmail.com (subject: Neoliberalism and Sexuality)
Course Description:
This course introduces students to cultural criticism on neoliberalism, which we will treat as a set of paradoxes following Sealing Cheng’s formulation from the Barnard Center video. We begin with historical and theoretical texts on neoliberalism as a socio-economic system with a set of cultural values. This reading includes David Harvey’s comparative introduction and reading of Thatcher’s attempted soul-changing project from A Brief History of Neoliberalism. More located studies include, among others, Aiwa Ong’s work on neoliberalism in Shanghai and Lisa Duggan’s analysis of US gay movement politics. We will draw connections between these readings and theorizations of sexuality and cultural narratives, including trans legal scholar Dean Spade’s article on the possibility of science fiction to provide alternative logics to assimilation and Samuel Delany’s theorization of the critical potential of science fiction reading practices. Alongside these texts we will read cultural narratives that provide critical accounts of neoliberal norms and reimagine sexuality and core values surrounding it in alternative ways, when there otherwise appears to be no viable alternative. We will study both English and Chinese cultural texts, so that we can discuss and explore alternative logics in a comparative framework.
Policy:
Students will be evaluated on their class participation, weekly reading responses, 1-2 oral presentations on assigned readings, and a final paper. Not completing these assignments is grounds for failing the course, as is turning in plagiarized work.
Textbooks:
Online texts and handouts provided by instructor.
Language:
The course will be conducted in English. During group discussions, students can use whatever language best facilitates dialogue and understanding among the members of the group.
Schedule:
| W1 |
02-17 |
Introductions
“What is Neoliberalism?
“Paradoxes of Neoliberalism.”
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| W2 |
02-24 |
Paradoxes of neoliberalism
“Russell Brand on Margaret Thatcher”
Sasha Lilley, "On Neoliberalism: An Interview with David Harvey"
From Angel, “Welcome to Wolfram and Hart”
伍佰&China Blue 生存遊戲
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| W3 |
03-03 |
The twilight of equality?
Duggan, “Downsizing Democracy” and “The Incredible Shrinking Public”
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| W4 |
03-10 |
The transformation of the soul
Harvey, “Freedom’s Just Another Word...” (esp. “The Rise of Neoliberal Theory”)
Ong, “Reengineering the ‘Chinese Soul’ in Shanghai?”
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| W5 |
03-17 |
Belief initiates and guides action-- Or it does nothing
Hall and O’Shea, “Common-sense Neoliberalism”
Butler, Parable of the Sower, 1-76
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| W6 |
03-24 |
At the edges of possibility
Spade, “Demanding the Unthinkable”
Delany, “Science Fiction and ‘Literature’--or, The Conscience of the King”
Butler, Parable of the Sower, 76-195
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| W7 |
03-31 |
Taking root among the stars
Butler, finish Parable of the Sower
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| W8 |
04-07 |
“The hero fought like hell to get taken in and underpaid by the company”
Duggan, “Equality, Inc.”
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| W9 |
04-14 |
Homonormativty and homonationalism
Puar, “The Sexuality of Terrorism”
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| W10 |
04-21 |
Limits of neoliberalism
Cheng, “Embodying the Sexual Limits of Neoliberalism”
Cheng, “Introduction: The Angel Club”
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| W11 |
04-28 |
Impossibilities
Spade, “Trans Law and Politics on a Neoliberal Landscape” and “Conclusion: ‘This Is a Portest, Not a Parade!”
Spade, “Impossibility Now”
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| W12 |
05-05 |
Experimental histories of the present
陳界認，加工廠 （ Chen Chieh-jen, Factory) (pending permission)
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| W13 |
05-12 |
With no permanent resting place
陳素香，T婆工廠，彩虹芭樂（Chen, Lesbian Factory and Rainbow Popcorn）
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| W14 |
05-19 |
Lisa Duggan visit; course meeting and make-up class Readings TBA
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| W15 |
05-26 |
Student presentations and review
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| W16 |
06-02 |
No class
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| W17 |
06-09 |
No class (make-up class in W14) |
| W18 |
06-14 |
Final papers due |
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