Cripping America 4219-SH0016
The goal of this class is to introduce students to disability studies and crip theory, some of the most important fields of study in the Anglophone humanities for the past thirty years. Attention to disability will allow us to investigate the overarching system of bodily and mental norms.
By “cripping America” I mean looking at American culture via the perspective of disability and examine the ways in which people with disabilities have subverted, redefined, and changed some of the tenets of American culture. Equally important, I want to look for disabled people in American culture and history and investigate how their presence was understood and how it has changed over time (for example, Eng and Chang). We’ll also focus on disability life writing and analyze it in the context of the popularity of autobiographies in the US.
Moreover, disability studies perspective will allow us to challenge the normative understandings of the body, rationality, and sex. We will analyze the term “bodyminds” and its usefulness for thinking about the inextricability of mind and body. We will also think of the relationship between disability, citizenship, and democracy.
Rodzaj przedmiotu
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Efekty kształcenia
Knowledge
Upon completing this course a student:
- is familiar with different models and understandings of disability;
- uses terminology connected with disability studies and crip theory;
- understands the connections between the state, democracy, and disability;
- is aware of how ableism impacts society;
- has preliminary knowledge of concepts related to biopower.
Skills
Upon completing this course a student:
- formulates critical arguments on topics related to disability, democracy, and body;
- is able to identify ableist content;
- has the skills to use disability studies theory in analysis of U.S. culture and society;
- has the academic writing skills and produces texts related to disability and disability studies.
Kryteria oceniania
Students need minimum of 60% to pass the course.
Students are required to attend classes, read/watch assigned materials and participate in class discussions.
Responses (30 points, 10 points per response)
Students will submit three response papers to texts selected by them (500-600 words). A student may hand in only one response per week. Responses have to be emailed in on the day the text is being discussed (before the class starts). No late responses will be accepted.
In-class presentation (2o points)
Students are required to conduct an observation of University of Warsaw’s accommodations for disabled people. Students can work on their observation/analysis in groups (up to three people).
Essay (30 points)
Each student is required to submit a final paper (1500 words) at the end of the semester.
Participation and attendance (20 points)
Grading scale:
100-97 5!
96-91 5
90-84 4+
83-78 4
77-68 3+
67-60 3
59-0 2
Literatura
TEXTS MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Cynthia Wu, "Chang and Eng Reconnected: the Original Siamese Twins in American Culture" (selection)
Ellen Samuels, "Fantasies of Identification: Disability, Gender, Race" (selection)
Robert McRuer, "Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability" (selection)
Margaret Price, "Defining Mental Disability"
Susanna Kaysen, "Girl, Interrupted"
Sami Schalk, "Bodyminds Reimagined: (Dis)ability, Race, and Gender in Black Women’s Speculative Fiction" (selection)
Eli Clare, "Brilliant Imprefection: Grappling with Cure" (selection)
Robert McRuer and Anna Mollow, "Sex and Disability" (selection)
Sunaura Taylor, "Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation" (selection)
Alison Kafer, "Feminist Queer Crip" (selection)
Meri-Nana Ama Danquah, "Willow Weep For Me: A Black Woman's Journey Through Depression" (selection)
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: