A beautiful, seductive boy whose narcissism and instinctive cunning hide the fact that he has no mind (and in fact, hardly any sentient consciousness) drives a succession of successful actresses, movie producers, cowgirls, and film directresses wild with desire. They rape him.
—Joanna Russ, To Write Like A Woman (80)
Required Readings
- Native Tongue: Chs. 19-25 (225-301)
- Native Tongue: Afterword (305-327)
- Native Tongue Trilogy Home Page: Questions and Topics for Discussion; FAQ
- Weedon, Chapter 6: “Feminist Critical Practice” (132-169)
- Lefanu, Ch. 1: “Representation and the Natural Woman” (13-20); Chapter 2: “Science Fiction Narratives” (21-23) [Moodle2]
- Russ, To Write Like A Woman: Essays in Feminism and Science Fiction: “What Can a Heroine Do? or Why Women Can’t Write” [Moodle2]
- Hardman, Transcription of Discussion of Women and Science Fiction (1-13, 35 [l. 21]-41, 44 [l. 16]-54) [Moodle2]
- Cameron, Feminism and Linguistic Theory: “Resistance: The ‘Dream of a Common Language'”(152-157) [Moodle2]
Optional Readings
- Lefanu, “Sex, sub-atomic particles and sociology” (in Armitt, 178-85) [Moodle2]
- Armitt, “Your word is my command: the structures of language and power in women’s science fiction” (in Armitt, 123-138) [Moodle2]
Additional Resources
- An Interview with Suzette Haden Elgin
- Suzette Haden Elgin’s SF Web Page
- Native Tongue Trilogy Home Page
- A Brief Historical Survey of Women Writers of Science Fiction [Moodle]
- Sample journal entry 1
- Sample journal entry 2
- “Sample journal entry 3
Other Works by These Authors
- Elgin, Suzette Haden
Earthsong; Native Tongue III
The Judas Rose (Native Tongue, Book 2)
Twelve Fair Kingdoms
Star-Anchored, Star-Angered (Doubleday Science Fiction)
The Grand Jubilee (Ozark Fantasy Trilogy, Book 2)
And Then There’ll Be Fireworks : Book Three of the Ozark Fantasy Trilogy
Yonder Comes the Other End of Time (Daw Collectors Book, No 663)
Due This Week
Weekly journal entry including main points from readings and observations about language from daily life.
Peruse Elgin’s SF Web Page and its links; read at least one linked page and discuss it in your journal.
Summarize Cameron’s assessment of the quest for a common language exemplified by Native Tongue. Discuss why you either agree or disagree with her. Include in your assessment what the women of the Lines were successful in doing.