Kenyon College
WMNS 481
Spring 2005
Senior Seminar: Feminist/Women and Humor
Laurie Finke
Office Hours: MWF 1:00-3:00.
Office: 202 Wing
PBX:5829
email: finkel@kenyon.edu
Course Description:
This course will investigate women's humor in general and feminist humor in particular.
Will will explore the nature of comedy, why we find certain things funny. We will look at
the ways in which comedy is gendered. By this I mean two things: do men and women
use comedy differently and does comedy use men and women differently?
We will explore current theories of comedy to see if they offer any models that might
enable feminists to use humor to redress gender inequities.
Some questions that will guide our exploration:
The nature of comedy
1. Why do we find something funny?
2. Is comic material gendered? If so, how? Nancy
3. Does comedy perpetuate gender stereotypes? Why is such humor popular? How does
comedy challenge gender stereotypes Mia
Comics
1. Is humor a way for women to channel feelings of anger that are taboo? Is humor a
coping mechanism for oppression? Hannah
2. Are female comics masculinized or defeminized? If so, in what ways? Annie
Audiences
1. Who make up the audiences for female/feminist humor? Erin
Feminism
1. What makes a joke feminist? Becky
2. How has humor been used as a tactic by feminists to effect social change? Does the
humor make the call for social change less serious? Can it be disregarded because it's
funny? Claire
3. How can we reconcile the hypersensitive and intellectual nature of feminism with
humor? Caroline
4. As a part of popular culture (given the conservatism of popular culture), does humor
reinforce the status quo or challenge it? Allison
5. How do women's relationships with humor (as producers and consumers of comedy)
reflect their relationships to power structures? (in some ways, this question restates
number 3 in feminist terms, but as Joanna pointed out, it also allows us to talk about
differences among women-of race, class, ethnicity, sexuality) Joanna
6. Does women's relationship to comedy derives from the gendered nature of the split
between public and private sphere? How is a comedy a public sphere activity that, at least
historically, may have been closed to women because of their "proper place" in the
private sphere? Liz
Class Presentations--We will go in order of the questions. Each of you has only 15
minutes so that everyone will have enough time. This means you will need to be well
organized and succinct. Try to use powerpoint to organize your remarks effectively.
This course satisfies a requirement in the Women's and Gender Studies
Concentration.
Readings:
Molly Ivins, Who Let the Dogs In?
Regina Barreca, They Used to Call Me Snow White. . .But I Drifted
Rita Mae Brown, Rubyfruit Jungle
Wendy MacLeod, House of Yes
Wendy MacLeod, Schoolgirl Figure
Gloria Kaufman, In Stitches
Diane DiMassa, Complete Hothead Paisan
others as assigned
Useful Web Sites:
Internet Movie Database
Seminar Presentation Guidelines
Seminar Schedule--we meet Tuesdays from 1:10 to 4.
Date
Jan 18
Seminar 1
syllabus planning, Ivins, Dogs
Seminar II
Mean Girls, But I'm a Cheerleader
Jan 25
Mean Girls, But I'm a Cheerleader
They Used to Call me Snow White
Feb. 1
Hothead Paisan
essays as assigned
Feb. 8
Assignment on Hothead due
Feb. 8
House of Yes (screening)
Feb. 15
Schoolgirl Figure; Wendy MacLeod
Hothead revisited
visit
Feb. 22
In Stitches
standup comedy
Mar. 1
In Stitches
Organizational meeting for
magazine
discussion; essays as assigned
5 March -20 March Spring Break
Mar. 22
class presentations on questions*
15 minutes each in order
Mar. 29
Apr. 5
Apr. 12
Apr. 19
Apr. 26
May 3
Evaluation
Each member of the class will be responsible for preparing an answer to one of the questions above. You
will present your answer as a brief (10 minutes) powerpoint presentation on March 1 just before spring
break. You may work collaboratively with classmates if you prefer. This will constitute 1/2 of your grade
for the course. The other half will come from your work on whatever "project" we determine to do.
For help in the research process, in locating information, evaluating, making
effective use of, and citing that information please consult the Five Colleges of
Ohio Information Literacy Tutorial.
For a discussion of the evaluative criteria used for grading papers in this course,
click here.
For a list of common grammatical errors, click here.
See also Revising and Editing Questions
How To Cite Web Sources
Academic Honesty: It is the responsibility of every student to familiarize him or herself with the
contents of the Student Handbook 's discussion on academic honesty. I will use these guidelines in
determining if you are being dishonest and will adhere to the prescribed procedures and penalties.
PLAGIARISM: What It is and How toRecognize and Avoid It. Click here
Disability Statement: If you have a hidden or visible disability which may require
classroom or test accommodations please see me as soon as possible during a
scheduled office hour. If you have not already done so, you must register with the
Coordinator of Disability Services (Erin Salva, salvae@kenyon.edu, x5145), who is
the individual responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for
students with disabilities. All information and documentation of disability is strictly
confidential. No accommodations will be granted in this course without notification
from the Office of Disability Services.