Blog 2/14

The readings for this week were on psychoanalytic, feminist, and queer analysis. Psychoanalytic analysis focused quite a bit on the work of Freud and Lacan. While the authors noted that most of their work is now more or less voided in the field of psychology, these ideas have essentially been appropriated by other studies – like critical media studies! I thought the idea that Freud’s concepts of sexuality reinforcing the patriarchal status quo was interesting recognizing the fact that Freud’s initial assumptions were already controlled by that same norm. He perceived a woman’s lack of a penis as powerlessness because power was understood to be masculine. There was nothing inherently powerful about a penis, it was the patriarchy that made maleness powerful and femaleness powerless.

The chapter on feminist analysis discusses the evolving representation of women in popular television and cinema. The roles have gone from definite lines of feminine/masculine: passive/aggressive, object/subject, domestic/public. I read another unfortunately posted Facebook article about the fact that women are now so confused about their roles, they have become too liberated, and are therefore unhappy as a whole. Women, this author suggested, need to go back and accept the gender roles of different spheres. Sometimes I think the goals of critical studies are so obvious to me, but then I read something like this (and this of course is not the only such text out there) and I realize why this is important to put out in the world.

Beginning the reading on queer analysis, I had it in the back of my mind that homosexual characters are becoming more prevalent in television and movies with growing social acceptance. The difference pointed out that I thought was interesting was the contrast between visibility as activism and visibility reinforcing heteronormative standards anyway. I happened to be listening to the radio after reading this section and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” was playing. The lyrics describe an anonymous encounter, something that “good girls” don’t do. She hopes her boyfriend won’t mind. The song may have made a splash when it came out in terms of being outright about “homosexual” acts, but the song really trivialized, vilified, and negated any positive message about gayness.