Section 002 — How to be Gay: Male Homosexuality and Initiation.
Credits: (3; 2 in the half-term).
Instructor(s): David M Halperin (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))
Course Description:
Just because you happen to be a gay man doesn’t mean that you don’t have to learn how to become one. Gay men do some of that learning on their own, but often we learn how to be gay from others, either because we look to them for instruction or because they simply tell us what they think we need to know, whether we ask for their advice or not.
This course will examine the general topic of the role that initiation plays in the formation of gay male identity. We will approach it from three angles: (1) as a sub-cultural practice — subtle, complex, and difficult to theorize — which a small but significant body of work in queer studies has begun to explore; (2) as a theme in gay male writing; and (3) as a class project, since the course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand.
In particular, we will examine a number of cultural artifacts and activities that seem to play a prominent role in learning how to be gay: Hollywood movies, grand opera, Broadway musicals, and other works of classical and popular music, as well as camp, diva-worship, drag, muscle culture, taste, style, and political activism. Are there a number of classically ‘gay’ works such that, despite changing tastes and generations, all gay men, of whatever class, race, or ethnicity, need to know them, in order to be gay? What is there about gay identity that explains the gay appropriation of these works? What do we learn about gay male identity by asking not who gay men are but what it is that gay men do or like? One aim of exploring these questions is to approach gay identity from the perspective of social practices and cultural identifications rather than from the perspective of gay sexuality itself. What can such an approach tell us about the sentimental, affective, or subjective dimensions of gay identity, including gay sexuality, that an exclusive focus on gay sexuality cannot?
At the core of gay experience there is not only identification but disidentification. Almost as soon as I learn how to be gay, or perhaps even before, I also learn how not to be gay. I say to myself, ‘Well, I may be gay, but at least I’m not like that!’ Rather than attempting to promote one version of gay identity at the expense of others, this course will investigate the stakes in gay identifications and disidentifications, seeking ultimately to create the basis for a wider acceptance of the plurality of ways in which people determine how to be gay.
Additional note. This course is not a basic introduction to gay male culture, but an exploration of certain issues arising from it. It assumes some background knowledge. Students wishing to inform themselves about gay men and gay culture in a preliminary way should enroll in an introductory course in lesbian/gay studies.
Who can tell me with a straight (sorry!) face that this will not end up being a <strike>meat market</strike> social networking opportunity for these curious students??
And wait ... if they’re born that way ... shouldn’t they already know these things??
Greg, this quite unbelievable item fits right in with the new focus of this once academically respected university. Makes me wonder how I’d react if I were considering a job applicant and saw this on his transcript.
Remember when the <a href= “http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2007/09/17/CampusLife/Lgbt-Affairs.Office.Considers.Name.Change-2972089.shtml”>
U of Michigan LGBT Affairs Office </a> was looking for a new name just a few months ago? Never did learn the result of their search. Perhaps Instructor Halperin could enlighten us.
This course has been around for a few years. In my household, saying “He’s a graduate of the University of Michigan” is descriptive without exposing the younger children to the real meaning.
Would it be a sin for me to laugh out loud at this?
Anglican Beach Party, you beat me to it.
Is it April 1 already???
When 1970’s Saturday Night Live skits become real life. Absolutely unbelieavable…..
Makes you wonder what the graduate program would be like.
Exploring life at the bottom of the septic tank….
Here’s a course I’d rather take:
Just because you happen to be an Anglican doesn’t mean that you don’t have to learn how to become one. Anglicans do some of that learning on their own, but often we learn how to be Anglican from others, either because we look to them for instruction or because they simply tell us what they think we need to know, whether we ask for their advice or not (LOL).
This course will examine the general topic of the role that initiation plays in the formation of Anglican identity. We will approach it from three angles: (1) as a sub-cultural practice—subtle, complex, and difficult to theorize—which a small but significant body of work in pan-Anglican studies has begun to explore; (2) as a theme in Anglican writing; and (3) as a class project, since the course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand.
The evolution of worship style as an individual attempts to Live Into™ Anglicanism will be considered.
Exploring life at the bottom of the septic tank….
That’s really unhelpful. I’d expect that sort of comment [reference to another blog deleted], but am surprised to see it here.
Yes, homosexual practice is sinful and yes it is but one issue that is tearing our church apart, but for God’s sake show a little love and compassion. Our enemies may not, but we ought to at least shew forth the love of Christ in all circumstances.
Michael Daley
Dear Heavenly Father,
We all have distorted images of who You are. May we all, the instructors of this course, the students, and the observers of this course, grow into the mind of Christ that we may gain a perfect knowledge of You. Amen.
It assumes some background knowledge.
You don’t say…
No hope for a “How to be Anglican” course in this country. Remember the little blue books one could find at each parish, “What is An Episcopalian”? I suspect the pages now are blank and the reader just pencils in whatever feels good. I remain puzzled these days at what could be included in “confirmation classes”. Do they just hand out buttons saying “Anything Goes!”?
Similar indoctrination has been going on for decades in ‘Womens Studies” departments, and we all know about the close alliance between gay and feminist activists, so why is anyone surprised at this?
I’d like to take that Anglican Studies class too.
Cheers,
Phil Hobbs
...and (3) as a class project, since the course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand.
They will gain hands-on experience, not just lip-service and screwin’ around with the articles.
I wonder how the course will be graded? I can see valid reasons for questions: “Does this count?” “Do we need to know this for the test?” “Can I get extra credit if I ....?”
Well, I took a similar course (only not for gays, which is something nobody had thought about at that time) 25 years ago at the U of Michigan and we basically sat around and BS’d for 45 minutes three times a week and everybody got an A. The mere fact that the subject of the BS has changed is not really all that big a change.
“Yes, homosexual practice is sinful and yes it is but one issue that is tearing our church apart, but for God’s sake show a little love and compassion. Our enemies may not, but we ought to at least shew forth the love of Christ in all circumstances. “
Michael, I don’t think this thread is hateful or lacking in compassion. It is one thing to be afflicted by sin, as we all are. It is another to revel in it, as this course encourages. To quote Oscar Wilde (yes, I appreciate the irony involved) and Chrissy Hynde: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” And some of us are looking down, contemplating the sewer. I doubt that this Wildean quote will make Mr. Halpern’s course. Perhaps Wilde’s last words will have a better chance: “Either those curtains go, or I do.”
If this were truly an academic course, it could be useful as a way for the Church to engage The Listening Process™ and learn how to really minister the transforming love of Christ to people who have Learned these behaviors.
Not much academic rigor suggested by the course description, though; sounds like “Catholic Mom” pegged it.
Hmmm. It IS a subculture and as such should be studied. Doesn’t sound like a how-to class, really, as much as putting the subculture under the microscope. The title of the class is unfortunate. Not very academic.
GoodMissMurphy wrote:
Doesn’t sound like a how-to class, really ...
It does to me! At least, this part does:
as a class project, since the course itself will constitute an experiment in the very process of initiation that it hopes to understand.
That sound to me as if part of the class is to initiate participants into the gay lifestyle.
Michael, I don’t think this thread is hateful or lacking in compassion. It is one thing to be afflicted by sin, as we all are. It is another to revel in it, as this course encourages.
Erm…I don’t recall calling the thread hateful.
Anyway, I was referring to a comment made by AnglicanXn, not the entire thread.
MGD
For something you’re supposedly born with there certainly is a lot of lifestyle to study.
I would be curious to see if Billy Budd is on the reading list.
Does the class include any field trips to Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Michigan?
More raving for your hard earned money
Michael, I did not mean for my comment to be hateful—which does not mean it could not be taken that way—but if homosexual practice is sinful, and if the “gay lifestyle” includes things like pride parades or even some of the stuff that shows up on sitcoms—then to think of a course on the “gay lifestyle”—a course that assumes the gay lifestyle not only exists but that it is a good thing that it exists—is like thinking of diving into a river of sludge. How can anyone one contemplate someone being drawn more fully into a pathway to death and not be repulsed?
Just another example of the increasingly wacky, liberal, anti-traditional family, secular humanism that is so firmly entrenched in collegiate academia. Shocking? No. Dangerous? Yes. Can’t the University of Michigan come up with a more substantive and useful course than this nonsense? Good grief….....
What a waste of good tuition $...
Darn. I may need to change my e-mail address!
In school I also remember the out of country students taking classes in their native language to get easy credits and meet girls who they could tutor. This is the same.
All that talk about an initiation makes me nerrrrvous. I think I’d skip this course ...
Some of you act soooooooo surprised! You need to touch your inner “identity” - try the course at UMass.
On the transcript this will show up as:
ENGLISH 317. Literature and Culture.
So parents, employers and graduate schools will not know what the work and topic was for the particular section.
An activity in search of a proclivity.
A proclivity in search of an orientation.
An orientation in search of a culture.
A culture in search of a science.
A science in search of a theology.
A theology in search of a righteousness.
A righteousness in search of a justification.
A justification applied to an activity.
Final Exam in Core Philosophy Course from U of M, circa 1980 (in it’s entirety):
“Why?”
Answer key:
1) ‘Why not?’
2) ‘Because’
Nope, I’m not kidding.
Courses like this make me glad to be a graduate of Hillsdale College. I have a good friend who is a product of U of M’s English department - trying to debate with him is like beating my head against a wall.
