Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies Spring 2019 newsletter

2019·2.6 MB·

by  Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies department

twentieth century when male performers dominated
the scene. Valaida Snow stood her ground, swaying
audiences in the U.S. and Europe in the process. In
spite of this success, Valaida’s story fell into oblivion
after her untimely death in 1956. Candace Allen came
to talk about how her meticulous research work to un-
earth Valaida’s life story and the surprises she
encoun-tered. Her novel Valaida (Virago Press) is a
must-read and now available at the Davis library.
This school year also saw the creation of a new
gender studies track within International & Global
Studies, which we celebrated with a lecture by Profes-
sor Ruby Lal in October 2018. In March, during wom-
en’s history month, we became active in the digital
realm as we staged the third annual Feminist Edit-a-
thon. Topics included female-identified exile writers,
U.S. women’s soccer and hockey, sexual misconduct,
Spring 2019
individual resistance, Emerge America, women’s suf-
frage, and Sojourner Truth. Producing feminist knowl-
edge within this ever-shifting anarchic enterprise is a
Dear students, staff, and faculty,
truly empowering experience.
We themed 2018/19 as the year of “guerrilla fem-
We are now looking forward to welcoming
inism.” What became apparent in this endeavor was
Lore Segal to campus on April 23 and 24. At 91 years
that the wisdom of our feminist elders—Julia Alvarez,
of age, the former professor at the Breadloaf Writ-
Madeleine Kunin, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Candace
ers’ Conference is standing strong and publishing a
Allen—fortifies us in our resolve to make this world a
new collections of essays, The Journal I Didn’t Keep
more equitable place. Led by the fearless writer-in-res-
(Penguin Random House), due out in June. At Mid-
idence emerita Julia Alvarez, we started out the year
dlebury Lore Segal will read from this collection on
with a candelight vigil for the Border of Lights, the
Tuesday, April 23 at 4:30 and be present for a Q&A
commemoration of the 1937 Massacre of Haitians by
after the screening of the documentary Into The Arms
the Dominican army on the banks of the Artibonite Riv-
of Strangers on Wednesday, April 24 at 4:30 p.m. This
er, which marks the border between the two countries.
movie documents her escape from Nazi Austria on a
Activists on both sides have been holding vigils since
Kindertransport and her life as a 10-year-old refugee
2011 to demonstrate cross-border solidarity and com-
child in England (also the subject of her autobiographi-
munity-building. At our vigil, students shared their and
cal novel Other People’s Houses).
their family’s stories of crossing borders, taking refuge,
The annual Gensler Symposium is taking
and leading a transnational existence.
place on Friday, April 26. This year’s topic is “Beyond
Madeleine Kunin presented her new book Coming
Intersectionality: Race, Class, and Feminist Futures”
of Age: My Journey to the Eighties soon there-after.
and will include speakers Keeanga Yamhatta-Taylor,
The former Vermont governor and ambassador to
Jennifer Nash, Jasbir Puar, Miranda Joseph, and Erin
Switzerland showed us her private side in this book,
Durban-Albrecht
her grappling with advanced age, finding love late in
We thank all of you, supporters of the Program
life, and facing the death of her husband—with an
in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies and the
admirable feminist fierceness and tenderness.
Feminist Resource Center at Chellis House, for your
In early November, right around the mid-term elec-
presence at our events, your critical listening and
tions, we screened and discussed the movie RBG,
questioning and look forward to a continued dialogue
about the Supreme Court justice who has gained
as the school year draws to a close.
superhero status. Ruth Bader Ginsberg has demon-
strated to the world that feminist activism can take on
Karin Hanta
many forms and also manifest in judicial decisions at Director of the Feminist Resource Center at Chellis House
the highest level. Professor of the Practice (Linguistics/GSFS, Spring 2019)
When Candace Allen came to campus during Black
History Month, she turned our attention to jazz history,
specifically the life story of trumpeter Valaida Snow.
The musician was an anomaly in the first half of the
MADELEINE KUNIN
COMING OF AGE:
MY JOURNEY TO THE EIGHTIES
By Mikayla Hyman
Madeleine Kunin, former fearlessly faces changes to her life
Governor of Vermont and that come with age.
Ambassador to Switzerland, came Governor Kunin shared her love Chrysalis
to Middlebury to present her new and loss as she recounted stories
book Coming of Age: My Journey to and poems about her late husband,
the Eighties. As Governor Kunin Dr John Hennessey. She shared You came out of it
shared poems and short stories one poem about seeing her born anew, like
about her life experiences, the husband decline in ability, and then yesterday, almost
audience gained insights into the reflected on her own shifts in not quite, but
vulnerabilities and strengths that capacity. Her writing reflects the
good enough for me.
make her such a brilliant, powerful awesome power of loving others,
How did you claw your
individual. and the harshness of watching them
way out from the chrysalis?
Governor Kunin broke down live in pain.
Scratching all the time,
social norms as she spoke about However, Kunin and Hennessey
scratching … scratching
aging. According to her, the “golden continued to live voraciously when
years” should be a period of ample they moved to their retirement home until you caught a thread
self discovery and growth. Kunin a few years ago. Their zest for life that unraveled into sight
reflected that “many people think came through in a decision to order and sound, until you slid
about the meaning of life as they get bright Barcelona red armchairs for back to me, arms
closer to the end of their lives. But their living room, which matched outstretched,
let’s not end it there.” Kunin, as she Governor Kunin’s Prius. Despite
wavering in the air,
ages, focuses on personal growth enduring hardships, the writer still
until the ground rose
and change as an individual. She approaches life with a sense of
up to your feet.
courageously explores new parts of daring and fun.
herself through writing, and
Rico this approach has been used in a revolutionary
way, documenting the lives of people who have been
subversive. Betances by Kino Garcia, for example,
traces the life of 19th century Puerto Rican nationalist
Ramon Emeterio Betances. These documentaries
unearthed Puerto Rican history, which was not taught
in schools.
Puerto Rican
The second type of narrative is the “counter
narrative approach," an outright rejection of the “great
man approach.” This narrative questions the former’s
Documentaries–
hero worship, and instead focuses on the long term
development of societies or the historical contributions
of ordinary people. Professor Leonard expressed how
A Lecture By Mary
this narrative was one that saw history from the bottom
up, shedding light on groups and issues that did not
receive enough attention. This genre also challenges
Leonard
the apathetic response to documentaries reinforcing
U.S. hegemony. Two cases in point are Seva Vive, a
pseudo-documentary by Francisco Serrano that blurs
the lines between history and fiction and Una
Identidad en Absurdo (volume 1) by Guillermo Gómez
Álvarez, a multi-track album of Puerto Rican shorts.
By Meiriely Amaral
The third type of documentary uses a
“subcultural approach,” highlighting punk music,
On October 8th, 2018 Professor Mary Leonard
skateboarders, and transgender expression, for
from University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez gave a
example. Documentaries about punk music often
talk entitled “Great Men, Counternarratives, and
respond to increasing poverty, with members of this
Subcultures: Approaches to Narrating History and
community appropriating the rhetoric of crisis and
Identity in Twenty First Century Puerto Rican
translating it into tangible terms to present themselves
Documentaries, 2008-2018.” Professor Leonard
as powerless. La Escena by Guillermo Gómez Álvarez
started the lecture speaking about the meaning
and Ejkei by Héctor Hugo Hernández are two
of identity in Puerto Rico, highlighting that identity
examples. La Escena focuses on the plurality of the
is often complicated in filmmaking. Professor
movements within the punk rock. Ejkei documents
Leonard explained how in the 1960s, Puerto Rican
how skating skateboarding is seen as a deviant
cinema expressed nationalist and anti-imperialist
identity in Puerto Rico. Through exploring these
sentiment, which continues today.
different types of narratives, Professor Leonard
The first type of narrative documentary filmmakers
showed us a glimpse of what identity and history look
have used is the “great man approach,” mostly
like in 21st century Puerto Rico.
highlighting the life of a male political figure. In Puerto
An image from
the documentary
film “Seva Vive”,
directed by
Francisco
Serrano, which
Professor
Leonard
discussed in her
paper.
R On Thursday, October 18, President Laurie Patton engaged in
a conversation with Ruby Lal (Professor of South Asian Studies at
Emory University) about her new book, Empress: The Astonishing
U
Reign of Nur Jahan. The event was a celebration of Professor Lal’s
new work and the introduction of the Global Gender and Sexuality
B track within the International and Global Studies major. Lal started her
lecture by reading excerpt from her book that brought the audience to
autumn of 1619, where Empress Nur Jahan, the 20th and favorite wife
Y
of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, left a celebratory procession in order to
slay a tiger that had been attacking villagers in a remote area. Nur
Jahan’s reign was revolutionary in that she went beyond simply
advising her husband: she issued her own imperial orders, circulated
coins with her image, and had a seat on the imperial balcony, below
L
which nobles and subjects would gather to listen to her decrees.
Following the reading, President Patton brought everyone back to the
A
present day with questions about Lal’s fascination with Nur Jahan, the
ways that she has been erased from Indian history, the ways that
L Professor Lal conducted feminist historical research, and the
aftermath of the book’s publishing.
Professor Lal explained that in most previous writings and
By
films about Nur Jahan, she is “locked in love,” meaning her
Rebecca accomplishments and role as the first female empress of India are
Wishnie erased. Only the love story between Nur Jahan and Jahangir is told,
and most accounts end her life story at the moment of her marriage.
Yet, Empress is more than a recovery project or a simple exposé of
the untold stories of Nur Jahan. Lal’s use of legends, not just
traditional historical documentation, as key sources for her book
represent a feminist intervention in historical writing: President Patton
inquired about the idea that “legends are just gossip” and the ways
that gossip is so often feminized and, therefore, marked as
subordinate to other forms of knowledge. Ruby Lal replied that
“legends are the public imaginary…adjacent to historical
documentation.”
Beyond this powerful intervention in historical knowledge
production, Professor Lal and President Patton discussed the
importance of publishing Nur Jahan’s biography at this political
moment. President Patton asked Professor Lal about the dangers of
being a public scholar and the reasons her book has been so
provocative. Professor Lal explained that as a “secular person of
Hindu origins,” in the context of a right-wing Hindu government whose
agenda does not promote coexistence or pluralism, “claiming a
woman and a Muslim as a great figure over 250 years before the first
democratically elected prime minister” becomes a radical act.
Professor Lal explained that Mughal history is currently being
removed from Indian history textbooks by the government. Professor
Lal’s book includes a dedication to “our plural heritage.” This simple
phrase has provoked relentless internet trolls and verbal attacks on
her because pluralism is, in Lal’s words, “the antithesis to the Right’s
agenda.” After publishing Empress, Ruby Lal also published several
op-eds defending the book’s importance and ideas of pluralism.
A Queer
Way
Out of
Israel
By Grace Vedock
Dr. Hila Amit, a self-identified
lesbian and left-wing activist, Hila Amit with students Grace Vedock '20, Taite Shomo '20.5,
and Alice Butler '19.
visited Middlebury on November
14, 2018. During a lecture titled
“A Queer Way Out of Israel,” Dr. any belief she had in positive who stay in Israeli, these queer
Amit shared her recent research and peaceful political change emigrants consciously left to
on queer emigration from Israel. in Israel’s stance toward the pursue “alternative temporalities”
To preface this discussion of occupied territories of Palestine. outside of Zionism and outside
‘otherness’ and situate her Framing her research in of Zionist structures of aliyah
scholarly narrative within queer theory, Dr. Amit explained (immigration to Israel) and yerida
her own life experience, she how she categorizes queer (emigration from Israel).
explained how she consciously flight from Israel as a uniquely Emigration from Israel to other
rejected heteronormative ‘unheroic’ political phenomenon. gay metropoles dismantles the
structures within the state of In her research, Dr. Amit mystification of Tel Aviv as a
Israel. Her own series of non- interviewed over forty queer “gay center.” She discussed
normative decisions inspired emigrants from Israel, casting how “pinkwashing” erases the
her to research other queer their decision to leave as a complicity of the state of Israel
emigrants who consciously political act. Heteronormative in imposing heteronormative
left Israel due to Zionist and constructions are, as she structures on queer sub-cultures.
heteronormative structures that explained, deeply engrained in “Israel is accepting [of gays]
are deeply engrained in Israeli Zionism. She classified Israel so long as they conform to a
society. as a “heteronormative temporal heteronormative lifestyle,” she
Born to Iranian and Syrian regime” in which queer uses of said. According to her research,
parents, Dr. Amit noted that time and space developed in queer Israelis do not buy into
‘otherness’ in Israel takes many resistance to heteronormativity. Zionist optimism about the future
forms. At age eighteen she came In her interviews, the topic of the state of Israel.
out, and consequently decided of army service – which is More information about the
against serving in the Israeli mandatory in Israel – often intersections of Zionism, queer
army. She worked as a civil arose. Avoiding army service theory, and emigration can be
servant and then as a translator is, in her words, the equivalent found in her book, A Queer Way
at a human rights organization, of “exiting a collective.” Though Out: The Politics of Queer
which she noted “shattered” perceived as betrayal by those Emigration from Israel.
listicle on rape culture with insights
Activist Alums
culled from her thesis, Maddie
produced the video “Middlebury
Unmasked” and wrote a column
Return to Campus entitled “Great Sexpectations” in
The Campus. She also initiated the
“Sexual Relationship and Respect”
On November 17, 2018, the Kolbe Franklin ’08 followed positions on the SGA and wrote her
Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Lauren Curatolo at the helm of thesis on restorative justice, a rich
Feminist Studies welcomed several FAM. During her time at Middlebury, source of information that has yet to
of its alums back to campus: Luke students launched the campaign be harvested on campus. Maddie
Carroll Brown ’14, Margo Cramer “Carbon-free by 2016, Rape-free by also curated a show in the Wilson
’12, Lauren Curatolo ’06, Kolbe ??” and organized “Take Back the lobby about activism against sexual
Franklin ’08, Maddie Orcutt ’16 Night” marches. Another popular violence at Middlebury throughout
as well as—by zoom—Kristina event was “Lovefest,” an additional the years.
Johansson ’14 and Emily Pedowitz affirmative event of bodily autonomy Current students spoke about
’13. In a one-day retreat, the alums and consent. their involvement in different activist
connected with current Middlebury Margo Cramer ’12 and Luke projects: Nell Sather ’19 on the
students, staff, and faculty to look Carroll Brown ’14 initiated the performance art group “Stares
back at their activism against sexual annual speak-out “It Happens & Stairs,” Taite Shomo ’20.5 and
violence and find out about present- Here” during their time together Grace Vedock ’20 on the current
day initiatives, especially in light of at Middlebury. Now a nation-wide iteration of “It Happens Here”
the changes proposed to Title IX. initiative, the speak-out about and “The Map Project” and Ruby
Presentations took listeners sexual violence and harassment Edlin ’19.5, Elizabeth Sawyer ’19
all the way back to 2002, when empowers students to make their and Rebecca Wishnie ’21 on their
Lauren Curatolo ’06 was a first-year voices heard. Emily Pedowitz ’13, efforts to create a digital archive
student. Co-president of FAM for Kristina Johansson ’14, and Maddie on feminist activism at Middlebury.
two years, Lauren organized the “I Orcutt ’15 followed in Luke’s and Alums, students, staff, and faculty
Love My Body Fashion Show,” an Margo’s footsteps as organizers of formed fruitful connections of
affirming event meant to counteract “It Happens Here.” Their activism support that extend beyond the
the stigma of sexual assault. extended beyond this organization: campus.
During her tenure, students also While Kristina created a Buzzfeed
surrounded Old Chapel to speak
out about sexual violence on
campus. As a graduation gift, her
class raised funds for the purchase
PICTURED:
of 4 blue lights with an emergency
Alums and
phone line to make walkways on
current students
campus safer. Unfortunately, the discussing
administration at the time thought past and
present campus
that the installation of too many
activism.
of these emergency posts would
cause “light pollution.”
Resistdance –
A Social Movement
Pictured:
Dancer Firas
Nasr '15. in the Making
By Christian Kummer
they led a variety of exercises focusing on platonic
intimacy and the importance of working together.
In one exercise, everyone in the group was able to
contribute one sound to a collective sound piece that
was built upon over time. After fully creating the piece
of music (solely with their bodies, the group was able
to celebrate their accomplishment and dance around
the room.) This exercise symbolized the power that we
On January 11, 2019, Middlebury alum Firas Nasr
all possess to work as a team towards a common
’15 visited the Middlebury community to share their
goal. The individuals in the room, many of whom
activist work with students interested in exploring
did not previously know each other, were able to
a variety of ways to protest and resist. Nasr’s
create something without outside resources and then
“werkshop”, titled “Organizing the Resisdance: Queer
bask in the glory and wonder of their own ability. In
and Trans Dance Protest In The Trump Era,” focused
regards to Resisdance, this work directly correlated
specifically on explaining what Resisdance is and how
as protests around the country are able to join
many forms of protest require a great deal of thought,
together in a common space and create something
planning, and intentionality.
meaningful without a need for excessive props or
During their talk, Nasr spoke about the
management (although Nasr does admittedly love to
idiosyncrasies of Resisdance and how it brings all
use compostable confetti at Resisdance protests).
bodies into the conversation. Essentially, Resisdance
Another activity that took place during the werkshop
protests involve groups of individuals having
involved students walking around the room, pausing,
celebrations and dancing in protest of a current issue
finding the person closest to them and then choosing
(or many issues all at once). Nasr commented on how
to have no contact, choosing to shake hands, or
our bodies have narratives written onto them and
choosing to hug. This work allowed the participants to
stories to tell. For marginalized communities, bodies
explore intimacy and consent in a non-sexual setting.
have been and currently are stolen (both physically
Students noted that it was uncomfortable at times to
and metaphorically) by members of hegemonic
say no, as the actions involved in the exercise are
groups that utilize “others” to solidify their dominance
very common and seen as interactions that are not
and power. Through Resisdance, individuals are given
directly correlated with consent. Another interesting
the opportunity to celebrate their bodies and reclaim
observation made by a participant was how choosing
them in the face of oppression and marginalization.
to touch or shake hands rather than hug led to feelings
Nasr continuously went back to a central theme that is
of letting their partner down. However, as a group, we
popular throughout the queer community: “I’m here,
discussed how a consensual interaction, regardless of
I’m queer, get used to it.” Nasr expressed how our
how intimate it is, has its own beauty and significance
own bodies can effectively take back the confidence,
and that higher levels of traditional intimacy do not
radiance, and pride that oppressive groups try to strip
necessarily correlate with higher levels of trust and
from us and morph them into integral aspects of
meaning.
liberation and justice. Our bodies are unbelievably
The final activity during the werkshop had students
powerful; it is in our ability to tap into the magic we
take part in what is known as “contact improv.” The
possess and embrace it.
participants moved around the room and touched one
Later in the day, Nasr held a “werkshop” where
another in ways that are less traditional or deemed
normal in everyday life. Some people hooked feet interested? How would the protest be afforded? Would
and touched elbows, some slid their arms against the organizers be able to make sure that communities
someone’s legs, and others spent more time on the that are statistically faced with more punishment
floor interacting in ways that are not possible while and blame than others are kept safe? The different
standing. This work allowed the group to explore a aspects that Nasr shed light on in regards to protest
variety of ways to physically connect and explore planning were extremely helpful and assisted students
the non-verbal feelings and thoughts that are always in the process of thinking critically about inclusive and
present on someone’s body. impactful resistance. This activity was the first time
The last part of Nasr’s visit had students plan that many of the people in the room were tasked with
a hypothetical Resisdance protest at Middlebury. The the job of actually sitting down and putting ideas into
group decided to focus on protesting the proposed hypothetical action. It was made clear that although
changes to Title IX legislation that will, if enacted, Resisdance may appear as a more spontaneous form
harm survivors and victims of sexual violence on of protest, it requires a serious amount of thinking and
college campuses. The participants were split up planning before it can be done effectively.
into smaller subgroups that focused on different Nasr’s visit most certainly lit a spark in all of
topics. The exercise forced the group to think about the participants’ activist minds. The room was full
the logistics that are involved in planning a form of of energy, creativity, and solidarity. Nasr has led
resistance. When and where would the protest take resisdance protests around the country, and even to
place? How would the protest benefit the community Mike Pence’s lawn. Everyone left the day’s events with
and how could it potentially harm the community? a newfound understanding of what their bodies can
How could the protest be made accessible for all? say and do. It is in our power to reclaim the oppression
Would props and music be involved? How would we have faced and shapeshift it into something
the organizers advertise the protest and get people beautiful—our bodies matter.
Firas Nasr '15 leading a Dance Party To Stop Climate Change.
Beyond #MeToo
:
Global Responses to
and disadvantaged groups, who are already
dealing with their own demons. While
Sexual Violence in conversations can be a useful tool, in isolation
they fail to address the deep-rooted social
issue.
an Age of Reckoning
Relatively soon after a discussion of the
issue of sexual violence on Middlebury’s
By Matt Martignoni campus, the conversation turned to potential
solutions to this problem. One student first
brought up the JusTalks program. They
After a week of emotionally taxing emphasized that while the program isn’t perfect
discussions, the "Beyond #MeToo: Global and it cannot make everyone care deeply about
Responses to Sexual Violence in an Age of this issue, it can “drop some seeds” to be used
Reckoning" conference came to an end with the in future.
"The Age of Reckoning at Middlebury College." The conversation then shifted to the Green
Moderated by Chellis House Director Karin Dot Program. One student stressed that the
Hanta and led by conference organizers Grace Green Dot program—which offers services
Vedock ’20 and Taite Shomo ’20.5, the nationwide in bystander education—feels like a
discussion highlighted that sexual violence is “checkbox; once you’ve completed it then you’re
inextricably intertwined with fundamental not part of the problem anymore.” Moreover,
elements of our society and that it moves far several students remarked that there is a gap
beyond temporally located events and borders. between the needs of the student body and
In order to kick start the discussion, Hanta what the college is doing to confront the issue.
emphasized the idea that “feminism is the There are normative gaps to fill. “No one knows
radical notion that women are people.” Several you can get Plan-B from Parton for $14 and
students made the point that while Middlebury there is little talk of external resources like
sells itself as a progressive institution, it Safe Space, an LGBTQ resource center in
subsequently devalues certain populations, Burlington.” In a similar vein, Vedock pointed
namely female-identifying individuals. One to the posters present in every bathroom on
student highlighted an important point as they campus that give steps about what to do after
referred to the people in the room: “Look at this one has been assaulted. “Where are the posters
room […] clearly there is a lack of willingness to about consent?” Vedock pointed out. “A more
engage with these issues. A lot if not all women proactive change is needed”, she said.
feel unsafe all the time.” In the end, while no definitive conclusion
The conversation subsequently shifted to a was reached, there were a few essential take-
central overarching question: what is the root of aways. One space that could be better utilized
this issue and how can we best address to address this issue is the commons system.
it? Shomo explained that human beings are all One student suggested that FYCs could be
socialized to prioritize certain bodies over better trained to facilitate these discussions
others. So, we already have these ideas in our as students feel close with their first-year hall.
own heads. Middlebury has to do better to Moreover, regular weekly hall meetings would
combat this deep-seated issue. One student provide great opportunities to have these
suggested that conversations about this issue conversations. Furthermore, this touches upon
with individuals who have direct experience an important point: repetition is key. Exposure
in this area could be one way to address this to this issue regularly and in many contexts can
concern. Others subsequently pointed out that help combat stigma and prevent the college
this puts the burden onto survivors community from ignoring the issue.
What’s Professor Wells
Doing During Her
Sabbatical?
By Matt
“Literature, to use Judith But-
ler’s idea about repetition, is a Martignoni
place where [social constructs and
norms] can be reproduced but also to do in that class is to show that
tweaked. It’s a place where new these issues are still very much
things can happen,” explains Mar- with us. These early plays about
ion Wells, Associate Professor of taming narratives are about silenc-
English and American Literatures. ing women and punishing them for
Professor Wells—who complet- speaking […] and vilifying women
ed her undergraduate studies at who are angry.” Contemporary
Oxford University and has a PhD in issues of sexism and other forms Dr. Marion Wells
Comparative Literature from Yale of oppression, Professor Wells
University—has found herself to be stresses, are not an anomaly. Lit-
these feelings about the loss of my
teaching more and more English erature allows students to realize
children.” She subsequently works
and American Literatures courses that “this didn’t just happen yester-
through her struggles to a fairly
cross-listed with the GSFS Pro- day, it didn’t just happen under the
conventional conclusion. However,
gram. In the past, Professor Wells’ current government. These sexual-
the poems she includes are fero-
courses have included one on ized attacks on women have been
cious and much more transgres-
English author Virginia Woolf, and happening since the beginning.
sive.
a course entitled “Unquiet Minds,” And seeing that is, I think, empow-
According to Professor Wells,
which examines the history of ering because it gives you another
the book highlights a tension
the asylum, hysteria, gender, and view.”
between a “more somatic affect
emotion. In keeping with this, while When it comes to her new book,
and a fuller articulated emotion”.
on sabbatical this spring, Profes- Professor Wells outlines that the
The book looks very centrally at
sor Wells is writing a book on the idea came out of her interest in
maternal grief, joy and anger.
intersection of gender and emotion maternal grief. She highlights how
While these may be the foci, Wells
in the early modern period with a she found an unpublished manu-
explains that the book “also tries to
“glance back at classical sources script of a life narrative by a sev-
theorize this tension between what
and forward to current debates” enteenth century woman who lost
can get impacted in the body and
such as the gendering of anger. a number of her children. Wells
more fully legible, socially under-
Professor Wells’ passion for explains that the woman’s account
stood emotional language which
feminism in literature manifests is very devotional and written in
you can readily say ‘ah, that’s
itself in her discussion of her fairly conventional prose but that
anger.’” She explains that she is
teaching. Her eyes light up as she she also has a very interesting dia-
“really interested in the intersection
explains a course—Gender, Power logue that she sets up between the
or the blocking that happens, and
and Politics on the Stage—that she body and the soul where the soul
the failure to transition from affect
plans to teach in the fall of 2019: “It is saying “you need to just accept
to emotion as a result of power of
is a pre-1800s class. We start with death because it’s god’s will” and
different kinds. She isn’t allowed to
Taming of the Shrew but what I try the body is saying “but… I have
be angry.”