GSS 355 - Femme Theory and Performance

As an unconventional expression of gender identity and performance, this course will examine femme formations and cultural productions as a form of patriarchal-masculine resistance.  With its discursive origins in lesbian gender and social relations, the term femme has since evolved as an identity and critical practice of femininity beyond heteropatriarchal and binary logics of recognition.  Therefore, we will explore its conceptual use and implications by various communities and social movements, including but not limited to, gays and lesbians, feminists and queers of color, and transfeminists.  This course will then draw on literature from many of these knowledge paradigms as well as a variety of intellectual modes (art, media, music, dance, novels, etc.) and transnational contexts. 

Furthermore, we will employ femme as an analytical tool for assessing institutional, political, and social gender dominance at the nexus of race, sexuality, class, and nationality.  As such, we will take up the category of femme, to ask not only who is femme, but what does this concept, identity, and/or performance do within these relations?

Satisfies a major and minor requirement in Gender and Sexuality Studies
Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement
Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement