180185 LPS Sara Ahmed’s Engaged Phenomenology (2022S)

During the course of this seminar, we will be reading Sara Ahmed’s ”Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others” (2006), as well as extracts of some of the work that she draws on, uses or criticizes in her analysis.

In her groundbreaking work, Ahmed demonstrates how queer studies can put phenomenology to productive use. Focusing on the concept of ‘orientation’ in “sexual orientation”, as well as the concept of ‘orient’ in “orientalism”, Ahmed examines what it means for experiencing bodies to be situated in space and time. Bodies take shape as they move through the world directing themselves toward or away from objects and others. Being “orientated” means feeling at home, knowing where one stands, or (not) having certain objects within reach. Orientations affect what is proximate to the body or what can be reached. A queer phenomenology, Ahmed contends, reveals how social relations are arranged spatially, how queerness disrupts and reorders these relations by not following the accepted paths, and how a politics of disorientation puts other objects within reach, those that might, at first glance, seem awry.

Ahmed draws on insights from queer studies, feminist theory, critical race theory, Marxism, and psychoanalysis. By pairing our reading of Ahmed with that of extracts of some of the theorists she spars with – Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, Butler and Fanon – we not only make acquaintance with leading figures in their debates, but can gain a first-hand understanding of how exactly Ahmed positions herself, engages with and applies them in her own analysis. A particular strength of the work is the philosophical handiwork that allows drawing connections from the theoretical to the political domain. Specifically, we will see how phenomenological analysis of the conditions and structures of experience can become a tool for re-evaluating the status quo, and gain a new understanding and basis for advocating for the non-normative.

READING & PREP :
The seminar sessions will be leaning heavily on the reading (35-50 pages per biweekly session) and small reading assignments (1/2 - 1 page guided reflections on the reading) that are a must to follow the course.

READING GROUPS (6 groups à 6-7 people):
To ensure a social and communal component, I will organize reading groups in the first session that are encouraged to come together to share in their reading, discuss the content and assignments. Further, each discussion session will have 2 reading groups that serve as specialists on the material of the week, prep a small presentation and keep a discussion protocol.

DISCUSSION SESSIONS (bi-weekly; 2.5 hrs):
The sessions themselves will be in-person if the situation permits (we will switch to Zoom, if not). They will feature feedback on the assignments, work and excercises in small groups and discussions that serve to clarify and solidify the core concepts from the reading, as well as give space for the students to include & explore their own questions to the text and topics. These discussions will form the foundation for a final essay.

Throughout the seminar, various skills of the academic practice in philosophy will be trained:

- fruitful & productive academic reading
- giving small presentations
- conducting constructive discussions
- working out research questions
- writing an outline to prepare an essay
- writing and responding to peer feedback
- cross-disciplinary thinking