Course Info: HACU-0271

Knowledge is often described as penetrative and ideas as seminal. This course is a challenge to patriarchal frameworks of bodies, histories, and, ideas. It poses this challenge through the woman power discourses of both the global south as well as those of people of color in the United States. Transnational, transgender, and transgenerational love letters and critiques will help us consider the tensions at work between allies in the destabilized discourses of the "female" (a term itself that will be put into question) body. A virtual community, facilitated by Skype and in person meetings with vaginal artists and pedagoges, will inform our discussions. Using tools from queer theory, Latin American and Latinx studies, women's, gender, and sexuality studies, critical race studies, as well as media and visual culture studies; the course considers practices often based in the humorous, low-tech, and clever. Topics addressed include la chingada, the menstrual taboo, femicidios and the ni una menos movement, abortion, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, and vaginal cosmetic surgery. Theoretical frameworks include readings such as the "Manifesto de la invaginacion," as well as others on raunch aesthetics, bottomhood, and cannibalism. These readings will inform discussion of works of performance art, Latin dance, conceptual practices, casta paintings, public actions, music videos, and fine art. Restricted to Division II and III students. Division I students by special permission only.