Module 11

Contents

OVERVIEW FOR THIS WEEK

This week, we will continue to look at gendered violence, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, criminalization and police violence. [Some of the materials for this week do contain representations or descriptions of these forms of violence so please take good care of yourself as you read/watch.]

We will spend time in class continuing to talk about the two documentaries that you were asked to watch last week. So, this week, please watch the one that you did not watch last week! I’m expecting that you will have watched both films by the time we are in class on Tuesday.

WATCH

Please select one of two documentaries to watch this week– both are available on the Kanopy database, which you can access through the BMCC Library. Remember, you need a login, but it is very quick to set up.

  1. Anita: Speaking Truth to Power (2013) (77 minutes): This film tells the story of Anita Hill, who accused her boss — Clarence Thomas, a then-nominee to the Supreme Court– of sexual harassment.
  2. Out in the Night (2014) (77 minutes): This film follows the story of 4 young Black lesbians who experience sexual harassment on the street. When they act in self-defense, they are arrested, charged, and incarcerated.

As you watch either (or both) of these films, please consider the following questions:

  • What forms of gendered violence are represented in this film? What do we learn about this violence and its impacts?
  • What do the victim-survivors say about their experience and how are their stories received– by their family/friends/colleagues, the legal system, the media?
  • Using Crenshaw’s framework of intersectionality, what do you see as the  the role of racism, or other structures of oppression like homophobia, in these stories of misogynistic violence?

DISCUSSION BOARD #11

There is no discussion board post due this week. If you did not do Discussion Board #10, you can still do it, for full credit. Prompt is here

FINAL PROJECT TO-DOS + DEADLINES

  • FINAL PROJECT DRAFT DUE NO LATER THAN APRIL 27
  • You will turn in a draft of your project for feedback to me.
  • In addition to your draft, I ask you to write me a short letter in which you share your own assessment of your work:
    • What are your goals?
    • What do you think is working well in your project?
    • Where do you feel you need support or improvement?
  • You can post your draft on Open Lab and select “DRAFT” as your category. It can be a private post. Your letter can be in the post or you can add it as a comment.
  • I will hold open writing time for anyone who wants to come and work on their projects. I will bring writing prompts if you need and will be available to answer questions– but mostly, we will just sit together and write. Tuesday and Thursday 12:00-1:30 PM, Zoom link here
  • If you have not done so: sign up for a class presentation ASAP here
  • The instructions for the project are here.

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