The danger of a single story

Here is the TedTalks video about representation and people of color that we mentioned in class a few weeks ago, a talk by Chimamanda Adichie of Nigeria.  (Found it in my end-of-semester cleanup…..) The video and a full transcript are also here

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Research Paper extension

I apologize for any confusion over the due date of the Research paper.  Per the handout (available here), I planned it to be due Thursday, June 3.

Enough of you are having trouble with it, however, that I am willing to extend the due date to Monday, June 7, noon.  For Monday, though, please leave a HARD COPY of your paper in my mailbox in CSRE,  Bldg 360 (mailboxes are just inside the door, kitchen, center of the building, mine is lower left).

I hope to see your best work.  Please drop me an email if you have any questions.

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Masculinity

We talked about changing norms of masculinity in class Thursday, and I thought I’d refer you to a terrific online resource, _Tough Guise_ by profeminist speaker/educator Jackson Katz. This is an online version of a film I show regularly in my gender studies classes.  Katz draws on media to construct a history of popular masculinity, and argues that violence is a defining element.

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Local events

This Saturday, May 29 is a National Day of Action against Arizona SB1070. There is a huge protest/demonostration in Phoenix, and lots of smaller local demonstrations of solidarity locally. In San Jose, there is a march at 2:30 from Story & King Roads on the East Side.

Also, Saturday, June 12 is the unveiling of a new mural by Chicana Artist Juana Alicia with reception from 4 to 7. I can forward you my evite if you’re interested.

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Week 8! May 18 & 20

This week’s reading is most of Roberto Trevino’s The Church in the Barrio, and the artwork of Alma Lopez.  Trevino did his Ph.D. with Al Camarillo in our history department. The book is both a discussion of Chicana/o religious practices in general, and a case study of Houston.  You can skim the local history chapters 1 & 4, but please read the rest.

Tuesday I will lecture a bit, and we will focus on Trevino’s work.

Thursday – Part I, we will explore the nexus of religion and art in the work of Alma Lopez.  Please browse her website at http://almalopez.net – see sections on art and public art, and especially “Our Lady of Controversy.”  The latter is about an exhibit of her work in Santa Fe that was loudly protested by local Catholic communities.

Thursday – Part II, we have a guest speaker, Dr. Maria Alaniz, on doing fieldwork in Chicana/o communities. Please read the handouts I gave you in class last Thursday before Dr. Alaniz’ visit.

Also,on Tuesday, please bring your research paper topics, and a few preliminary bibliographic sources.

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Week of 5/10 – Brown Bodies

Tues:

Cruz, “Epistemology of a Brown Body”
Lopez, Real Women Have Curves
Fregoso, “Toward a Planetary Civil Society”

Senorita Extraviada

Josefina Lopez’ website

Homicide Report

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Lady Gaga, sexuality, agency, etc.

Here’s the Lady Gaga telephone video (I think) and the commentary I mentioned in class….to think about

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Week of 5/4

Tish Hinojosa, “Con Su Pluma en Su Mano” (Frontejas, 1994)

Tomboy by Karleen Pendleton-Jimenez – Vimeo

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Ozomatli, “Gay Vatos in Love” – LATimes

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Midterm

Download the midterm prompt here in MSDoc format.

There are four options, of which you will choose two.  If you have additional suggestions, or modifications, please let me know.

Please read the directions carefully – most importantly please note:

  • use the cover page template given, and do NOT include your name on the internal pages.
  • turn in the essay online, to my email, prof at chicanas.com.
  • you may discuss your essays with others up until you start writing.  Once you start writing, please keep your thoughts to yourself.

I am always available via email.  Feel free to post notes to each other on the blog as well.

Have a good weekend.
s.

Midterm assignment is HERE

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Violence at CSULB

Some relevant links:

And from a colleague, Clarissa Rojas:

The anti-GLBT and misogynous hate violence continues at CSU Long Beach, targeting Chicanas, Chican@ Feminists, Indigenous folks, Queer Chican@s and a white trans student who was attacked and left with a carving of the word “IT” on his chest. The most recent hate violence appeared 2 days ago as a comment on the school newspaper inciting the beheading of gays, lesbians, including named artist Alma Lopez

Some of the prior hate violence has threatened indigenous communities with violence and referenced an appropriated representation of Aztec Law calling for the murder of gays and lesbians with explicit and detailed instructions as to how to carry out killings. Continue reading

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