Week 11: Thinking Identity & Difference

The lecture of week 11 looked at certain areas of difference covering class, ethnicity & identity, in relation to power and the effects of such. New concepts of power and difference in people were introduced such as Hegemony and Lacan's mirror theory was revisited in light of what we were discussing today. Human Nature was also analysed, as an often convenient justification.
  

 

Week 11: Thinking Identity & Difference (Extended Reflection)

This weeks content tied concepts of difference and identity in with the concept of power. A new term we came across was Hegemony whereby dominant patriarchal discourses find themselves; encompassing the oppressive behaviours, power structures and arrangements by which power is guaranteed to stay in certain hands. The tutorial presentations opened my eyes to the power prejudice (which comes from a lack of knowledge) and racism on identity and society.

Lacan's theory was revisited also in relation to the 'other', as anyone recognised as not 'me'. It was discussed how the western male is able to identify as a unified self against the 'other' and that the other does not mean any inferiority or threat, nor signal that anyone else is foreign or primitive, yet recognises difference of beings. Human nature was described in a way I had previously not considered also, being a commonly convenient justification; as displayed in the following quote by Foucault "Discourse writes itself on our bodies".



  

Week 10: Stereotypes and Representation

The main ideas I derived from this weeks content were on the basis of feminism that stereotypes often rely on negative definition, the stereotype of a feminist is that she is not a real woman, and must hate men & the stereotype of a man who rejects patriarchy is frequently that he is a homosexual and not a real man also. We looked at the interracial aspect, that "aboriginal people, Asians, Africans and people from the middle east are stereotyped as 'not real Australians' who are not like us."
Also the construction of women 'under the gaze', portraying them as being supplementary objects to the man.

Week 9: Gender, Sexuality, Subjectivity (2)

Diving straight into the weeks topic, Freudian psychoanalysis, Freudian Oedipal Conflict & Jacques Lacan's study of language and the 'mirror phase' were the main points covered in this weeks lecture. All three areas shined historical light on the development of female oppression, gender struggles within the family unit and finally the discovery of gender inequalities through the metaphorical looking at ones self through a mirror.
 

 

Week 9: Gender, Sexuality, Subjectivity (2) (Extended Reflection)

Week 9 discussed a plethora of concepts from subjectivity to Freudian psychoanalysis, the differentiation between gender & sex and cultural discourses influencing how we understand who we think we are.

The lecture started with the ins and outs of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis, described well as a key factor in the silencing and oppression of women. The central idea was that because women do not have a penis, they do not have access tot he vital symbolic signifier of Western Culture, the phallus. He assumes women regret that they are not men. Key also is Freud's 'Oedipal Conflict'; whereby the son idolises the father not the mother after discovering that she does not have a penis, where both son and father both once battled for the mother affection. It's based on the comparison of gender qualities. An important note was that Freud wrote these theories in the last half of the 19th century when patriarchy was unquestioned.
The reading by J.Lorber and L.J.Moore on male sexuality and societies narrow perception of 'handsome' was surprisingly valid, I myself found examples recognisable in my habits of identifying one male from another.

The tutorial presented a varying selection of interpretations of the weeks focus questions, from the separation of gender and sex, questioning whether a physical sex takes priority in identifying a person, over a mental gender.. Also interesting questions were raised on sexuality applied to this concept and which label would be applicable to changed sexes, followed by the pointing out of these labels being irrelevant and the need for such caused by cultural and societal pressures to fit into a category.

Homework: 3 significant moments in my personal life when gender has shaped opinions/subjectivity

 

A new employment of mine was continually questioned by significant males in my life, for being too 'easy', a job a man would never lower themselves to do; making me feel the need to constantly reassure others of how hard I work. This ironically occurred initially due to traditional gender roles, but also because of the notion that females and males should work equally as hard.

When I first became of legal age to vote and was asked by friends what my vote will be and why, the quick domination of conversation concluding females aren't interested in politics and just vote as their parents did (the conclusion found by mostly males, but not denied by females). This was shocking.

The notion, that even I find myself going along with although I know it is wrong, that females who wear very feminine and/or revealing clothing have promiscuous tendencies. The idea stems from the gender assumption that all males want to see good looking females wearing what leaves nothing to the imagination and highlights if you didn't already know, that they are a girl. Of recent years I have noticed comments that I don't dress particularly feminine and hide a lot, the significance in this is the fact that I subconsciously may be dressing like this in order to prove to society I am not promiscuous.

Week 8: Gender, Sexuality & Subjectivity (1)

This weeks content introduced the topic of gender, sexuality and subjectivity (interpretation based on personal opinions rather than evidence). The reading by K. Schlunke put into perspective the historical contexts where many of the sexual and gender constructs prominent today, came from. Once looked at I can make the connection and say that gender assumptions and subjectivity have impacted my actions through life and identify everyday discourses which unknowingly undermine specific genders and the right of individual's sexual freedoms.

Week 6: Oher Ways Of Seeing

Week 6 saw the first of our tutorial presentations. Interpretations of the focus questions in relation to different readings resulted in really varying presentations and 'Ways of seeing'. From the presentations I gained most insight into culturally different ways of seeing life and people, for example, culturally appropriate & inappropriate mannerisms and the way these can be confusing for someone who is not familiar with a culture or religion. Being predominately within my own culture most of the time it's a difficulty I previously would not have considered in everyday life, how exchange students are expected to know all the traits Australians live by and melt into them.

Week 5: Basic Concepts in Social Theory (2)

Week 5 we looked at space, place & practice. Considering the concept that spaces rendered familiar and unimportant have their own dynamics and power struggles and can be seen as resistance as previously discussed of individual agency and societal structure; for example someone shortcutting through a par rather than taking the paved path around.

Week 4: Basic Concepts in Cultural Theory (1)

It would seem an appropriate fundamental step in understanding the course to first define what culture is. As discussed in the lecture it encompasses everything from the arts, media, government, law, religion beliefs, family structures, values & relationships, to relationships with the land, what we grow and how we share, exchange and use it.

Week 4: Basic Concepts in Cultural Theory (1) (Extended Reflection)

In relation to the reading by Fran Martin (Introduction in Interpreting Everyday Culture), with the weeks focus questions, I feel impelled to discuss my personal revelations. The reading opened my eyes to subconscious 'everyday' happenings, how these shape the 'non everyday events' and without even knowing it how these shape our culture. Our culture actually is our everyday; that is our repetitive and cyclical actions and thoughts. Also it is the breaks in our routine, the special and unexpected events ironically are what make the day to day ones 'normal', this was a new concept to me.

I found it interesting too, to note and find examples in my life of where opposing forces of societal structure and individual agency have become apparent, resulting in an abstract balance or resistant forms of culture, in both subcategories. An interesting example which puts it in perspective was the suggestion of when I cut across a park or grass area when walking somewhere, instead of following the paved path as the environment (the pavement) suggests. To take the analogy further one could consider the effects of this, while if it was just one person there may not be any, however if 100 people did the same each day, the grass in that area may start to die and a sign could be put up to stay off the grass.

While culture is such a broad concept, these structural examples convey how the boundaries of culture have been defined.

Week 3: Words, Signs and Texts (2)

In class we focused specifically on advertising propaganda in our discussions.
We looked at techniques which make use of signifiers and signified through implied meanings to get the consumer to consider what they are being told further.
A good example of this would be in propaganda that sells sexual connotations.

Week 2: Words, Signs and Text (1)

Discussion in week 2 was prompted by the first reading:
Nikki Gemmell (2013) 'Open To Question' from The Weekend Australian Magazine, February 16-17, 2013, p.8

Our discussion delved into accepting the 'unsure' state of mind, being okay with not understanding and not having a made up state of mind. We put the idea into situations, namely conspiracy theories. The comment was made that resonated with me, was that conspiracy theories arise from people who cannot be complacent with not having a definitive opinion or answer, who for lack of answers to the questions asked by others find what answers they can and create their own truth.