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Feminist Literary Theory. British Literature on November 4, 2014. Please take out your journals. Objectives. Students will be able to understand the foundations of Feminist literary theory. HOW? “Male Gaze” Postmodern Feminism Queer Theory. THE MALE GAZE. Laura Mulvey
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Feminist Literary Theory British Literature on November 4, 2014 Please take out your journals.
Objectives • Students will be able to understand the foundations of Feminist literary theory. HOW? • “Male Gaze” • Postmodern Feminism • Queer Theory
THE MALE GAZE Laura Mulvey “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”
What is the Gaze? The concept of gaze is one that deals with how an audience views the people presented. For feminists it can be thought of in 3 ways: • How men look at women • How women look at themselves • How women look at other women
Features of the Male Gaze The camera lingers on the curves of the female body, and events which occur to women are presented largely in the context of a man's reaction to these events. Relegates women to the status of objects. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by identification with the male. Again, this demonstrates the marginalization of women.
Gaze and Feminist theory Laura Mulvey coined the term ‘Male Gaze’ in 1975. She believes that in film audiences have to ‘view’ characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male. This theory can be provided in literature as well. How are women described and represented? In Beowulf and SGGK, it is through the eyes of male heterosexual society.
The Gaze Leading to Oppression Jonathan Schroeder (1998), “to gaze implies more than to look at – it signifies a psychological relationship of power, in which the gazer is superior to the object of the gaze.” Silently read and annotate the first page of your packet.
While we watch the music video, analyze the “Male Gaze” and other aspects of Feminist literary theory. “I love the way she fills her clothes. She looks just like them girls in Vogue.” Be prepared for questions! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ABNEjPxWEg
Comprehension Questions • What color top was the girl wearing? • What color top was the boy wearing? • What bowling lane was used? • What color belt did the girl wear? What color belt did the boy wear? • What color shoes did the girl wear? What color shoes did the boy wear? • What color were the girl’s eyes? What color were the boy’s eyes? • Why were some of these questions difficult?
Journal #8 – Gender Performances In your four-column chart, record the following information:
Objectives: • Students will be able to understand the foundations of feminist literary theory. • Students will be able to analyze the symbolism in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. • HOW? • Postmodern Feminist Theory • Gender Pronouns & Language Evolution • Pentangle Activity NOVEMBER 6, 2014 HAPPY THESAURUS THURSDAY! British Literature
POSTMODERN FEMINIST LITERARY THEORY Read and annotate a summary of her claims in her book Gender Troubles.
Journal #8 – Gender Performances 2) Look over your chart. What happens when people do not fit into their roles? How does society treat them? How do you think we should treat them?
Gender-Neutral Pronouns • Read and annotate the article “Gender-Neutral Pronouns” from the Washington Post. Remember to have an open mind and to consider the evolution of language that we have witnessed in our studies. • http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/gender-neutral-pronouns-when-they-doesnt-identify-as-either-male-or-female/2014/10/27/41965f5e-5ac0-11e4-b812-38518ae74c67_story.html