Feminist Literary Criticism Sandra Gilbert Bell Hooks This does not make one a “femi-Nazi.” Think of this as a lens to look through & see better—more deeply & analytically.

What Feminist critics do: (1) Rethink the canon—the accepted “greats” of all-time—to include women authors, poets, directors, actors (2) Examine representations of women in literature and film by male and female authors & moviemakers (3) Challenge representations of women as “Other”, as “lack”, as part of “nature” (whereas, men are part of “culture” and better than “natural” or “emotional”) (4) Raise the question of whether men and women are “essentially” different because of biology, or are socially constructed as different (subjugating women as “worse” than men in the important ways)

I choose books that young men will like; won’t the gals read anything already? Do girls like Barbies naturally or because we buy Barbies for them and tell them to like the dolls? Do boys like footballs naturally? Are boys more competitive naturally, having been “hard-wired” to compete for centuries—for women, food, respect, status, rank?

Thursday in class: scholarlynx.ning.com Become an aware Marxist literary critic: How does Kesey’s social status & lifestyle influence his writing? How does your social status & lifestyle influence your reading/interpretation? What systems are good for you, for the characters? What systems are bad/exploitive for you, for the characters? Become an aware Feminist literary critic: What are your problems with this novel? What female qualities are shown as weak, bad, pathetic, negative? What masculine qualities are shown as strong, good, powerful, positive? How does your gender affect your reading/interpretation?

Does Hermione Granger get the credit she deserves?

A Feminist critic, such as myself, would analyze Juno A Feminist critic, such as myself, would analyze Juno. These pictures depict her as: confident, powerful, equal, firm, at peace, dauntless, self-sufficient, co-owning, secure, judged but able to withstand, even bolder than her “man”

A Feminist critic would analyze Twilight A Feminist critic would analyze Twilight. These pictures depict her as: insecure, submissive, dependent, reliant, protected, main but lesser, sustained by, accessory, strong because of, empowered by, obedient, even slavish