Sexuality and Politics
S07
Kelly Anderson
This course looks at the intersections of sexuality and politics in American history and culture. This is an interdisciplinary course drawing on the literatures of cultural studies, history, queer theory, women’s studies, science, and anthropology. We will begin with a theoretical framework that explores the categories and constructs of sex and gender. Then we will look at various “sex panics,” or moments in recent history where politics and sex collided. The topics we will cover are lesbian and gay subcultures and movements, sexual repression and the cold war, the control of reproduction, prostitution, AIDS, and pornography. While much of the course content draws from the literature of gay and lesbian history, this seminar is designed to interrogate the broad spectrum of sexuality, from straight to queer and beyond. This course will also introduce the practice of oral history and students will be required to conduct an oral history for their final projects.