If I Don't Blog, This Will Be My Excuse

[sek8586]

I am taking a class right now entitled "Feminist and Queer Explorations in Troublemaking" which has the exciting prospect of a final -project- instead of a final -paper-. I am not being sarcastic! One less seminar paper to write is one more smile on my face. Many more smiles. Anyway.

So as my final project, I am going to be blogging about our

Comments

[the_neon_one]

That class has the best name ever. :3

[skerman]

I will definitely be following! Love those Dead White Guys.

I am so curious about how your reading list will get put together. You didn't mention her specifically, but it sounds like Kristeva would be pretty foundational to this project.

Does the political modernity class read any of Adorno's critique of rationality later on? Or does it jump straight in to more performance-oriented stuff?

I will look forward to your periodical updates!

[sek8586]

Oh! My reading list is getting put together somewhat at random - my professor pointed me to a couple of books but then is sort of leaving things up to me to explore. Which Kristeva would you recommend? I've read a couple of short pieces by her but nothing specifically addressing this... I would love some recommended reading. :)

[skerman]

It's kind of hard to recommend this because it's so impenetrable, but _Revolution in Poetic Language_ is the most-cited work on her theory of the semiotic vs. symbolic systems of language. Reading the first 30 pages or so (in my edition) might give you an idea, though. Have you read her essay "Abjection"?

Most of the stuff I've read around this has been related to Gertrude Stein and her use of language--there's a lot of feminist criticism there. There's a recent book called _Ugly Feelings_ by Sianne Ngai that has a chapter on her called "Stuplimity" that uses theory in smart ways. You could try that, and looking at the citations/bibliography for ideas. In fact, other books whose bibliographies could point you more specifically to helpful theory/citations would be Lisa Ruddick's Reading Gertrude Stein, Marianne DeKoven's A Different Language, and Rachel Blau DuPlessis' The Pink Guitar. All of this would fit perfectly into what you're describing.

If nothing else, Stein has a piece called "Patriarchal Poetry" that you'd definitely

[sek8586]

Oh man, I just got Stein and Kristeva out of the library. First of all, Gertrude Stein kind of rocks my world. Second of all, I actually think she and Kristeva might have some (strange and difficult) things to say to each other... that might be my first entry right there! Thanks!!

[skerman]

Awesome -- Stein is a world-rocker for sure. And I think some of the people I mentioned have said things about Kristeva & Stein, should you wish ever to pursue a research angle on this, but I will be very interested to hear what you have to say about the two. I am currently putting together a Stein syllabus for a postdoc application and realize I haven't read so much of hers that I'd like to!

[sek8586]

Hah! I laugh because I want to know what -you- have to say about Stein... since my entire knowledge of her comes from the dissertation chapter you wrote. Once I have read a little more carefully we may need to have a little discussion where you give me all the answers. ;)

PS I totally support Stein as hypothetical postdoc course. She seems underappreciated, and also crazy enough so that potential employers will be impressed by your smartness and esoteric-yet-strangely-accessible interests. :)