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Essay Instructions: View and analyze the contemporary film Forty Year Old Virgin (2005) through a sociological lens ? specifically, one attentive to socially constructed understandings of sex, sexuality, and even what counts as ?sexual?, and write a critical analysis.

The paper MUST do ALL of the following:

1) Discuss the relationship of the film to our (contemporary, Western) ?sexual natural attitude? (this will require briefly introducing and explaining the concept of a ?sexual natural attitude? ? hereafter, SNA). (Additional information concerning SNA will be uploaded) You need not outline all the axioms of our SNA. Instead, explain what the SNA is AND (a) explain or discuss TWO axioms that are relied upon or reinforced by the movie, and (b) explain or discuss TWO axioms that the movie could be seen as challenging, problematizing, or ?denaturalizing? in some way. In some cases, it may be possible to point to explicit, fairly obvious examples of reinforcing or challenging the assumptions of our SNA; in other cases, there may a need to ?step back? and think about the assumptions that are operating, or think very creatively about how to interpret the movie as challenging those assumptions.
AND

2) Discuss how the movie could be used to illustrate or explain ONE of the following:
a) the co-constitution of the ?normal? and the ?perverse?
b) how sexuality understood via ?sexual scripts? differs from sexuality as a ?drive?
c) how sexuality intersects with social hierarchies of either race or class (or both, if you?re feeling ambitious!) NOTE: we are aware that these movies are about white, middle-class characters ? hence making it all the more important to interrogate the role of race and class!
d) being (identity) vs. doing (behavior/acts)

NOTE: These components of the analysis do not need to be addressed in this order,
or even discussed as separate components. Indeed, skilled writers will find ways to blend the discussions smoothly by organizing the paper in relation to a thesis (central argument).

AND

3) Your analysis must rely on, integrate, and properly cite at least three sources from the provided list of readings.

CAUTION: Although a brief overview of the plot and characters should be included to orient the reader, the purpose of this essay is neither to provide a detailed film summary, nor personal opinion of how ?good? or ?bad? the movie is. Instead, the paper should read like a sociological analysis that discusses a particular film as one example of representations of sex and sexuality in popular culture, and which explores the issues outlined above.

FORMATTING
(1) Paper must be 5 double-spaced, in 12-pt font (Times New Roman), using 1? margins.

(2) Citations must adhere to either ASA or APA style

(3) Provide a properly formatted bibliography for all sources. Identify your citation style on your bibliography

Information concerning readings (Readings will be uploaded)

Readings 1, 2, 3 , and 14
Seidman, Steven. 2010. The Social Construction of Sexuality. (2ed) New York: WW Norton.

Reading 4
Maines?99 the ob nobody wanted, The Technology of Orgasm, Rachel January 29, 1999

Readings 5, 6
The Gender of Sexuality Pepper Schwartz, Virginia Rutter Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Jan 1, 1998

Reading 8
Passion and Power: Sexuality in History, Kathy Peiss, ?Christina Simmons, ?Robert A. Padgug ? 1989

Reading 13
Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 George Chauncey (chap 3)

Information for all other readings is identified within the pdfs

Essay Instructions: Use the episodes from Ellen (Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah) and the L Word (Lets Do It) to discuss how these different television programs engage with and shape the representation of sexuality. how has sexuality been used as a marketing tool, as well as a symbol of social tolerance and progress on TV? using specific examples from the episodes, direct quotes from the readings and lecture material, your response should address the ways that these shows represent sexuality differently and what the potential implications are of these differences. how do these shows both reinforce dominant ideas about lesbian and gay acts as venues to express cultural criticism? more broadly, why is representation on mainstream television so significant, especially for sexual minorities?

I will be sending in 3 readings along with lecture notes *(section 8 is the one based specifically on sexuality) and also the reading list of the class in case you might need to look at other articles.
There are faxes for this order.

Essay Instructions: You are required to write an essay with the following topic:

With the concepts and theories of Sigmund Freud, frame your analysis on his work "Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality". You have to recreate your own concept based on the concept and theories of Sigmund Freud’s masterpiece.

This paper must include a bibliography of works consulted (3 to 7), and all references must be properly footnoted. Marks will be deducted for failure to use Standard English.

You will be evaluated on the quality of your research, your ability to analyze texts, and your skill in crafting a coherent and compelling argument. Outstanding papers demonstrate depth of understanding, original thought, and a fresh perspective on the topic.

The following are Recommended References for helping your writing:

1. Freud, "Instincts and Their Vicissitudes"
2. Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents
3. Freud, Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality
4. Freud, Beyond the Pleasure Principle
5. Brooks, Psychoanalysis and Storytelling
6. Rose, Sexuality in the Field of Vision
7. Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals

Essay Instructions: This paper should analyze the sexuality and sexual relationships of hermaphrodites- which gender they feel attracted to, how they express themselves sexually, and what sorts of things they feel during sexual activities. No footnotes.