Postmodernism: Intro Readings

The following discussion of recommended readings to introduce students
to feminism and postmodernism took place on WMST-L in August 1998. The
file The Language of Feminist Theory may be of related interest.  For
additional WMST-L files on the Web, see the WMST-L File Collection.

I am looking for one or two articles (or book chapters) that would introduce
undergraduates to feminism and post modernism.  I want something that is
clear and lucid for students who do not have much of a background in theory
or philosophy.  I have several feminist articles that critique post
modernism, but I have not found anything that clearly lays out the
parameters of post modern thought and defends its usefulness for feminist
theory.  I am also interested in a clearly written article or chapter that
applies a post modern (or post structuralist) and feminist perspective to a
particular topic.
 
Thanks for your help.
 
Kay Trimberger
E. Kay Trimberger
Coordinator and Professor
Women's Studies Program
Sonoma State University
707 664-2086/2840
Trimberg  @  Sonoma.edu
ektrim  @  uclink2.berkeley.edu

Kay, (and colleagues):
 
I would heartily recommend Chris Weedon's book Feminist PRactice and
Poststructuralist Theory.  That's what I use to introduce students to
postmodernism.  It's eminently readable.
 
Laurie Finke
finkel  @  kenyon.edu

Ditto on Weedon.  Second edition c. 1997, available in paper Blackwell
Publishers, 180 pages, good read.
 
> I would heartily recommend Chris Weedon's book Feminist PRactice and
> Poststructuralist Theory.  That's what I use to introduce students to
> postmodernism.  It's eminently readable.

Hello, I have used Jane Flax's article on postmodernism & feminism
reprinted in L. Nicholson (ed.), (1990). Feminism/ Postmodernism. London:
Routledge, in my introduction to Women's Studies classes.
 
(The students have liked it).
 
Sima Aprahamian, Ph.D.
Simone de Beauvoir Institute
Concordia University
E-mail: aprhsma  @  alcor.concordia.ca.

um, it's been a while--my recollection about where I found it is kind of
foggy--but when I was an undergrad I found Catherine Stimpson's "Feminism
and Postmodernism: Are the Differences Spreading?" pretty good.
 
Andrea Austin
msarazin  @  netinc.ca

I am forwarding this for a friend.
____________________________________________________
 
Kay,
 
In my theories of feminism course I have used two pieces that might be
useful to you.  1.  Judith grants chapter on postmodern feminism in her
book Fundamental Feminism, Contesting the Core Copcepts of Feminist
Theory.  Routledge, 1993.  I'm not sure if it meets your criteria for
sudents unfamiliar with philosophy, but students in the theory course do
 find it very useful.  In fact I recommend the book, except the chapter
on marxist feminism.   2. For a postmodernist application to a particular
topic, I enjoy teaching Emily Martin's piece "The Egg and the Sperm"
Signs, 16(3)  Spring 1991, pp. 485-501.  It looks at the construction of
romantic roles for gametes in biology textbooks.  It is great fun and
students can easily grasp how language constructs 'reality'.
 
 
Carole McCann
mccann  @  umbc.edu

The problem with the books suggested so far -- both of which
I recommend -- is that they take too strong a stand to
be recommended alone.  (IHMO)
 
What about Linda Nicholson's _Feminism/Postmodernism_
collection?
 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Judy Evans                      jae2  @  york.ac.uk
Typing by Dragon Systems Software.................Opinions mine