Living a Feminist Life in Literature

What does it mean to practice feminism in this moment? In this class we will tackle this question in the context of a broad range of literary texts, using Sara Ahmed’s work of feminist philosophy Living a Feminist Life as our guide. We will consider thematic foci including the figure of the female artist; the marriage plot; the importance of education for women; feminist dystopias; and the power of feminist joy. Authors will include Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Alice Walker, Tayari Jones, Tara Westover, and others. In addition to literary works, our explorations will incorporate different artistic media, including quilts by Faith Ringgold, paintings by notable female painters, and screen adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. This class is taught in conjunction with Professor Sujata Moorti’s seminar, FYSE 1074.