• Structuralism/Post-structuralism
• Post-Modernism
• Post-Marxism
• Feminism
• Post-colonialism
• Black Criticism / Black Feminist Criticism
• Theory is power! Critical theory is powerful!

• Lower body embraces reproductive organs and anuses; power symbols of transformation
• Censorship has prohibited the exploration of sexuality on TV

• Many of the South Park episodes display that in
“male sexuality is the possibility that all men have homosexual thoughts” (Johnson-Woods p.
246)

• Coming out, gay marriage, sex changes, gay adoption
• Usually through a male lens

• Are categories important to identity like gender, sexuality, race, culture, religion, ethnicity, etc. the product of nature or are they learned/performed?
• Identity exists naturally, is fixed, and biologically determined (essentialism)
• Or, identity is made, unmade, remade in a constant evolution (construction)
• Attempt to empower those who are oppressed by hegemonic culture and lead to political and social change
• Praxis???

• Nativism (born with qualities)
• Pre-programmed to behave a way
• Meaning/identity given by nature/birth
• Identity is not a choice
• Scientific cause
(gene) for identity
(homosexuality?)
• Construction
(identity comes through experience)
• Blank slate
• Meaning/identity is given through society
• Identity based on relation to subjects/objects

• Judith Butler, 1990
• Identity is fluid and no “essence”
• Gender is an act, a performance or impersonation
• This “act” has been practiced through history
• Gender is something you do and not what you are
• Drag as challenge to gender identity

• Fluid identities
• “Queerness” avoids categories like “gay” or
“lesbian” and looks at mismatches between sex, gender and desire
• Categories/labels exist as discourse only
– Categories are themselves socially constructed
• Opposes binaries like gay/straight
• Is sexual orientation natural or essential to the person or is sexuality subject to change and a social construction?

• Until 1973, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder; homosexuality can be “cured”
(religion?)
• Same sex marriage (offered by 16 states)
• Gays in the workplace (discrimination)
• Gays in church/religion (discrimination, unholy, etc)
• Adoption by same sex couples
• Hate crimes (bias) punishable by federal law
• Lawrence v. Texas (2005), Supreme Court, struck down Texas anti-sodomy law

• Lemmiwinks
• Discrimination in the workplace
• Mr. Garrison "intolerant of his own behavior"
• Intolerance won't be tolerated
• Tolerance of something one hates is different from acceptance of it as good
• Libertarian philosophy?
• Intertextuality?

• “Paradox of tolerance,” Popper
• Open societies required intolerance for intolerance
• Those who prevent free thought/speech should be prevented of the same
– South Park and censorship
• When a tolerant person acts antagonistically towards intolerance, thus intolerant of it; then becoming intolerant themselves

• Commentary on same sex marriage and adoption
• Stan and Kyle are better parents
• Same rights but “Butt Buddies”...equality?

• Same sex marriage in 16 states w/ benefits
• Marriage is government contract and social structure/institution to promote family structure
• Arguments against:
– 1. religious scripture 2. procreation 3. bigotry/tradition 4. family structure
• Arguments for:
– 1. same rights 2. family as socially stabilizing
• “The best case for gay marriage is that there is no compelling, legitimate case against it.”
(Held, p. 230)

• John Stuart Mill
• Power should only be exerted against one's will to prevent harm to others
• Governments must prove harm as related to the behavior
• This is a natural right...civil rights guarantee natural rights via government contract