Queer Theory and Gender Performativity - Lecture 23

Explore queer theory and gender performativity in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University's "Introduction to Theory of Literature" course. Delve into Judith Butler's work in relation to Michel Foucault's "History of Sexuality," examining differences in terminology and methods. Investigate Butler's emphasis on performance and Foucault's concepts of "power-knowledge" and "the deployment of alliance." Analyze Butler's focus on ontology through the lens of Levi-Strauss's raw and cooked concept. Compare Butler's critique of identity politics with postcolonial and African-American theorists' perspectives. Learn about the introduction to Judith Butler's ideas on sexuality, Foucault's deployment of alliance, gender performance, the political agenda of gender theory, methodological differences between Foucault and Butler, and the gendering of reading.