Gender Studies 333EM - Embodiments

(Em)bodi/ment: body/mind. How does our culture fantasize about severing them? Where is there ever pure mind, pure body? Who counts as able, as broken, or as food? How does discipline, punishment, and usefulness come into play? What is agency and knowledge in relation to embodiment? We will study different 'problem' cases of embodiment where the fabric of culture begins to unravel: athletics, birthing, breeding and assisted reproduction, chronic illness, dairy, disability, drugs, dying, fatness, pregnancy, queerness, sexuality, speech ('disorder'), and others. Much of the seminar's agenda will be driven by students' own research and interests in studying embodiment.

Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors; Prereq: GNDST-101.