Methods in Postmodernity

1. Methods in Postmodernity • Basic Points of Foucault excerpt on “Method” in History of Sexuality, Vol.I • Connect to Bourdieu Distinction • Connect to Butler’s “Subjects of Sex…” in Gender Trouble • Review the collected examples of 70s-80s Postmodernity, looking for “post-structuralism” on the ground…

2. Foucault on Method (in Postmodern moment) • Single most important point: • Intentions and Subjectivity cannot be privileged • The “nonsubjective” is as important in the “sphere of force relations” • In METHOD, we only have access to the nonsubjective – Nothing under the skull • Identity and Subjectivity are one element of “Power” among many others

3. Foucault on Method (in Postmodern moment) • Rule of Immanence – Method starts at “local centers” – in examples and cases • Rule of Continual Variation – Method looks for “matrices of transformation” – over time • Rule of Double Conditioning – Method connects these above by locating specific tactics in a “strategic envelope” • Rule of Polyvalent Discourse – “communication” is the site of both method and power-knowledge. We/they only have access to discourse. Although Foucault codifies and lists here, keep in mind this is his own strategy/tactic for communication – we should apply his method to his own writing in turn to create a holistic approach… don’t accept the “rules” blindly.

4. Move to Bourdieu, Distinction • At face value, an excellent critique of modernism • But again, like Foucault, in method/theory, the main point: • Subjective Tastes do no more than code class distinctions into public view. “Eye is a product of history reproduced by education” (p.467) … “Intention is itself the product of social norms and conventions…” (p.472) • METHOD borrows from the Class Struggle implicit in the bourgeoise “pure gaze” pitted against the Popular • Implication (looking back now…) in postmodernity, the logic of the museum (“aesthetic disposition becomes an institution”) is applied everywhere to everyday life, the aesthetic intention pervades, and therefore a culture of “unlimited receptiveness” (p.472-73)

5. Is Distinction now simply common sense… • We now “buy” class position, the distinction of consumption is understood • Nascar-DoubleDouble-WalMart consumer culture as POLITICAL opposite of “elitist” Latte-Brie-Ballet-Obama voters • The logic of the museum (“aesthetic disposition becomes an institution”) is applied everywhere to everyday life, the aesthetic intention pervades, and therefore a culture of “unlimited receptiveness” (p.472-73)

6. Butler, Gender Trouble • Like Bourdieu, Method is the inseparability of identities • Like Foucault, Method of genealogy relies on the Subject being prior to their representation, a result of institutions… • Gender prescribes Sex (and theory of social construction of gender hides that) • Time to try to define post-structuralism…