Flagging a Post-Midterm Reference:

"A subversive reading emphasizes a marginal voice or position and brackets off the dominant context that presumably holds it in place, or it demonstrates how the marginal voice exposes the contradictions of the dominant context within which it emerges" (White 192).

REMINDER: "Anything You Ever Wanted to Ask a Transsexual"

David Harrison, actor and playwright, speaks and takes questions from the audience regarding transsexuality, today (Thursday, October 26th) from 3:30 - 5:00 pm in 7-152 Education North. Everyone is welcome.

Specific Midterm Format Announced...

Your midterm examination has been produced. With regard to the specifics of the format, the WST320 midterm will consist of 10 questions, 2 questions per page, each question worth a possible 10 points total. (And, yes, partial credit can be earned.) There were simply too many concepts to include in a shorter section as I had imagined previously. When studying for the exam, you will probably want to keep these strategies, which are included under "directions" on your exam, in mind: 1) outline a cogent understanding of each argument referenced. 2) Recall and include concepts pertaining to each question and article referenced. 3) Include your developed understanding of these concepts in your answers. 4) Use specific examples from the text with which you are engaging. 5) Write in a clear and concise manner. 6) Ensure your writing is legible. 7) Use only permanent ink. 8) Use only the space provided between questions to answer.

FeminiSteppin' Disrupts/Interrupts UofA Tory Atrium...

Congratulations, WST320!! You are the (official?) founding feminist practitioners of the groovy popular-cultural practice called feministeppin'. I'm just posting to let you know that I am so very proud of all of you; not only did you step, you STEPPED UP, People!! Thank you for a fabulous evening. (Ah, ya did me proud.)

FeminiSteppin' Sistahs be in da Howse...

Tonight is da night, 320 Folk. Be pom-pom-stompin' ready. Tory atrium, 7pm. Watch for the thumpin', bumpin', stompin' of The Shrivelling Auras, The Banana Split(s), The Steppin' Cunts, and The Awesome Interpellations. C-ya at the Atrium!!

We Interrupt this Program with 2 Messages from your Instructor...

Dear WST320 Folk, 1) I have just finished reading your blog entries for the 14th of October, and I wanted you to know that I was particularly impressed with this grouping. I couldn't help but notice that, while your heads seem to be hurting beyond any immediate repair, your blogs represented reflection, not perfection. Your cyberspace narratives, in other words, speak back to the Baudrillard piece in that they represent a practice in reflection and significance, as opposed to a speedy cataloguing of simulacra. These narrative spaces you have produced and the ruminations that fill them are not necessarily deemed valuable in western culture, so I was wondering if we might consider Kipnis's argument regarding a re-working of value here. For the time, effort and THINKING that you're doing in these spaces is a knowledge-work, yes? 2) and speaking of Kipnis, both her article and the Rhodes piece read earlier in the term speak to political practices representative of existing political struggles, regardless of how provisional. Your objective, then, for your remaining blog assignments will be to incorporate BOTH the cultural studies theory you've read (and thought about) for 320 and your knowledge of feminism gained from such courses as WST201. In other words, what I'll be looking for in your remaining blogs is how you negotiate an understanding(s?) of a feminist popular culture. (NOTE: The picture above is meant to trump Kelly Mac's picture that John found so frightening.)

Them Boots are Made for FeminiSteppin'...

Dear 320 Folk, tonight (Oct. 12th) represents the last of any class time to be spent on your feministeppin' performance. My hope is to groove on through some hyperreality and a bit of left popular culture before checking on each group's status. Just so you know, your judges have been selected, and the 7 of them are very excited to witness the first (ever) feministeppin' competition in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD. But, then again, history doesn't exist. ??? C-ya tonight.

"Anything You Ever Wanted to Ask a Transsexual"

The Women's Studies Program, Inside/Out, and the Canada Research Chair in Gender and Sexuality invite you to attend "Anything You Ever Wanted to Ask a Transsexual." David Harrison, actor and playwright, recently in the film Transamerica, takes you through his personal journey from female to male. His story is not merely how girl becomes boy, but also illuminates the complexities of when gender and sexual orientation intersect and shift--and all the possibilities that open up as a result. Since most people don't know a transsexual, or think they don't know one, here's an opportunity to ask anything you want. Personal questions are encouraged!!! Thursday, October 26th, 3:30 - 5pm, Room 7-152, 7th Floor, Ed. Bldg. North