Embodied Economy Gender and Bureaucracy

Current debates measure the degree of equality of homosexuals in terms of how far they are granted to enjoy the rights of heterosexuals, which suggests a particular form of living as representing the most possible freedom, but at the same time makes impossible a critique of what has been termed heteronormativity. In how far is our idea of heterosexuality (and this usually means the nuclear family and monogamy, and not other forms of heterosexual desire) itself a result of historical disciplinary structures and what structure does this organization of sexuality serve? David Greenberg and Marcia Bystryn argue that by looking at how homosexuality has been persecuted in Europe since the rise of bureaucracy we arrive at a better understanding of why we still differ between hetero- and homosexuality today, which is essentially a specifically Western identity concept that is currently projected onto other cultures from which the West demands liberation of homosexuals, but these cultures have a different way of understanding and conceptualizing desire. This seminar wants to look at ‘the centre’ from the margins and through that offer students to critically engage with what gender studies is about: how our identities are themselves, at the moment of critique, already structured and disciplined in a certain way and how we can alter these positions by studying these topics. To highlight this we not only engage with theoretical texts, but also analyse literary and filmic representations of characters of gender and economy: the bureaucratic male, the housewife, the migrant (guest) worker, the prostitute and others. A reader will be made available at the Copythek Ankele. Texts that will be discussed: Judith Butler, -Psychic Life of Power-; Bruno Latour, -Factures/Fractures-; Tomáš Sedláek, -Die Ökonomie von Gut und Böse-; David Greenberg/ Marcia Bystryn, -Capitalism, Bureaucracy, Male Homosexuality-, Carole Pateman, -The Sexual Contract-. There will be seven viewing sessions in the second half of the term on Fridays (23.11.-25.1.) after the seminar, 16-18:00. Films: Peter Greenaway, -The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover-; Anrew Niccol, -In Time-; Sam Mendes, -Revolutionary Road-; Terry Gilliam, -Brazil-; Stephen Frears, -My Beautiful Laundrette-; Ken Loach, -It's a Free World-; Craig Brewer, -Hustle and Flow-. Seminar für Anglistik Universität Siegen WiSe 2012/13 M.A. Wilkinson Nils M.A