Sexuality and Sexual Politics - Einzelansicht

In 1984, Gayle Rubin wrote that ”it is precisely at times such as these, when we live with the possibility of unthinkable destruction, that people are likely to become dangerously crazy about sexuality.” Rubin shows that while for some sexuality may seem an unimportant topic, ”a frivolous diversion from the more critical problems of poverty, war, disease, racism, famine, or nuclear annihilation,” the abjection of sexual behaviors, discourses, and subjectivities deemed abnormal and unhealthy is more than collateral for political projects. It is, rather often, its fundamental logic and ultimate objective. Taking cue from Rubin, in this seminar, we dive into a wide array of sexual formations and sexual politics to recognize the centrality of sex to wider politics, from AIDS activism to its use in the corroboration of border regimes.

Students enrolled in Seminar 1 will be assessed based on their assignments (3 ECTS; pass/fail); students enrolled in Seminar 2 (“Referat oder Kurzessay”) will be assessed based on their short paper (3 ECTS; graded); students enrolled in Seminar 2 and signed up for a Portfolioprüfung will be assessed based on their long paper (Hausarbeit) (6 ECTS; graded)