Group work for week 4 (27.01.2015), Venus im Pelz
Group 1: (Rachel, Desmond, Kathy)
Please provide a short oral summary of the following article. Where possible, try to relate Rudinow’s main points about the voyeur to the figure of the masochist we find in Severin:
Rudinow, Joel, “Representation, Voyeurism, and the Vacant Point of View,”
Philosophy and Literature 3.2 (Fall 1979): 173-186
The other groups should analyse the following scenes of masochism, paying attention to: a) details of the theatricality / artificiality of each scene b) references to power play, both interpersonal and imperial c) pleasure / pain, especially the pleasure of viewing
Group 9: (Richard, Hamza, Daniel) and Group 4: (Yasmin, Louise, Cyril)
85-91: the first scene involving whipping and binding, and also the three negresses
Group 8: (Georgina, Kat, Frances) and Group 3 (Charlotte, Bethan, Lucy)
95-99: the second scene involving binding, whipping and yoking
Group 7: (Killian, Ina, Jenny)
109-110: the third scene of voyeurism and the whipping of the German artist
(see also 116-117)
Group 6: (Dan, Fran, Melissa)
133-136: the fourth scene, which “cures” Severin (see also Wanda’s letter for the theme of cure, 137-138)
Beyond the central masochistic scenes, the following excerpts are also important:
Group 5 (Kiki, Parvinder, Jack) and Group 2 (Thomas, Hannah, Rob)
125-132: this is the scene of a bitter dispute between Wanda and Severin; they then make up only for the tables to turn once again. Please trace the rhythm of their interaction.