IGNOU MWG 004 Important Questions With Answers English Medium
MWG 004 Gendered Bodies and Sexualities is another captivating course offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) that delves into the intricate connections between various forms of gendered bodies and sexualities.
Course Structure:
- Block 1: Embodiment: This block delves into the philosophical and theoretical understanding of the body, exploring its social and cultural construction. It examines how bodies are imbued with meanings and shaped by power dynamics.
- Block 2: Abled Bodies and Disability: This block challenges the notion of a "normal" body and critically analyzes the experiences of individuals with disabilities. It explores the intersections of disability, gender, and sexuality, dismantling discriminatory norms.
- Block 3: The M/Other's Body: This block focuses on the "othering" of bodies that deviate from societal norms, particularly in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. It examines the power dynamics embedded in representations of the "other" and advocates for inclusive narratives.
- Block 4: Sexual Cultures: This block delves into the diverse expressions of sexuality across cultures and historical periods. It critically analyzes the social regulation of sexuality, sex work, and sexual identities, challenging discriminatory norms and promoting sexual rights.
Q.1 Discuss the concept of “embodiment” from a feminist perspective.
Use performance as the context to locate your argument, with the help of
suitable examples.
The concept of "embodiment" within feminist discourse encapsulates the notion that individual experiences and identities are intricately connected with their physical bodies. In the realm of performance, embodiment assumes significant importance as it involves the lived experiences of individuals, particularly women, and how these experiences are expressed, negotiated, and contested through the body.
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IGNOU MWG 004 Important Questions With Answers English Medium-At its essence, embodiment in a feminist context challenges
historical dichotomies that have positioned the mind as superior to the body,
emphasizing the inseparability of the two. From a feminist standpoint,
embodiment is a locus where societal norms, expectations, and power structures
manifest physically, shaping individual experiences and identities. The body
becomes a canvas upon which gendered, racial, and societal expectations are
inscribed.
Performance, as a medium, serves as a dynamic arena for the
exploration of embodiment, providing artists with a platform to engage with and
challenge societal norms and expectations. A prime example is the work of
renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic. Her piece, "Rhythm 0"
(1974), is particularly noteworthy. In this interactive performance, Abramovic
placed 72 objects on a table and allowed the audience to use them on her body
as they pleased. This immersive experience laid bare the vulnerability of the
artist's body, illustrating how the female body, in particular, becomes a
receptacle for external projections of desire, aggression, and power. Abramovic's
work exemplifies how the female body is often subjected to societal
expectations and the profound impact of these expectations on lived
experiences.
Moreover, feminist performance artists have employed their
bodies to challenge and redefine societal notions of femininity. Consider the work
of Carolee Schneemann, whose iconic piece "Interior Scroll" (1975)
involved Schneemann slowly extracting a paper scroll from her vagina while
reading from it. This performance was a direct confrontation with the
historical relegation of women's bodies to the realm of the obscene or taboo.
By integrating her body into the performance, Schneemann sought to reclaim
agency over her own embodiment, challenging the restrictive norms placed upon
women's expressions of their physical selves.
IGNOU MWG 004 Important Questions With Answers English Medium-Theater, as another form of performance, has been a powerful
platform for exploring embodiment from a feminist perspective. In Sarah Kane's
play "Blasted" (1995), the body is a central element in depicting the
impact of violence and trauma on individuals, particularly women. Kane's
visceral portrayal of sexual violence and its aftermath serves as a stark
critique of the ways in which women's bodies are often sites of brutalization
and objectification. The embodiment of trauma in the characters becomes a
commentary on the larger societal structures that perpetuate violence against
women.
Dance, with its emphasis on movement and expression through
the body, offers yet another lens through which embodiment can be examined in a
feminist context. Pina Bausch, a pioneering choreographer, explored the
complexities of women's experiences through her dance pieces. In works like
"Cafe Muller" (1978), Bausch used the physicality of the dancers to
delve into themes of desire, intimacy, and the negotiation of personal
boundaries. The dancers' bodies, in their vulnerability and strength, became a
means of articulating the multifaceted nature of women's lived experiences.
The concept of embodiment in feminist performance also
extends to the idea of performativity, as theorized by Judith Butler.
Performativity suggests that gender identity is not an inherent trait but
rather a series of repeated acts and behaviors that constitute the illusion of
a stable identity. In this framework, the body becomes a performative site
where gender norms are enacted and contested. Drag performances, for example,
challenge traditional gender norms by intentionally embodying and exaggerating
societal expectations of masculinity or femininity. "RuPaul's Drag
Race," a popular reality TV show, celebrates the art of drag and
highlights how performance can be a powerful tool for destabilizing rigid
gender categories.
IGNOU MWG 004 Important Questions With Answers English Medium-Furthermore, the intersectionality of embodiment is crucial
to understanding the diverse experiences of women. Women of color, for
instance, navigate intersecting layers of identity, and their bodies become
sites where race, gender, and other social categories intersect. In the context
of performance, artists like Ntozake Shange, in her choreopoem "For
Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf"
(1975), use the embodiment of diverse characters to explore the unique
challenges faced by women of color. The performance underscores the importance
of acknowledging and representing the diverse narratives within feminist
discourse.
Q.2
Discuss how gender and sexuality are constructed in the context of culture.
Give appropriate examples to substantiate your answer.
Q.3
How do feminist perspectives theorise the notion of “maternal” and “gendered
body” across cultures ? Explain with relevant examples.
Q.4
What is disability ? How does it contribute to the understanding of femininity
and masculinity ? Discuss.
Q.5
How do culture and myth represent the “androgynous body” in Indian context ?
Discuss with the help of examples.
Q.6
What is feminist theology ? How does it help to contextualise women’s body in
relation to religion ? Explain with the help of examples.
Q.7
Define body politics and discuss it in the context of race and gender.
Q.9
Discuss the notion of "materialism of the body" from a feminist
perspective. Use the concept of body in bio-medicine as the context to
substantiate your answer.
Q.10
Explain how gender and race are constructed in the eugenic debates. Give
appropriate examples to exemplify.
Q.11
Analyse the concepts of disability in relation to "masculinity" and
also in relation to "motherhood."
Q.12
How do feminist perspectives explain the growth of New Reproductive
Technologies (NRTs) across the globe ? Explain with the help of two case
studies.
Q.13
Describe the contributions of Luce Irigaray and Helene Cixous to explain the
concepts of female body from a psychoanalytical perspective.
Q.14
Define androgyny and discuss the socio-cultural situations and conditions of
Hijra community in India.
Q.15
Define androgyny and discuss the socio-cultural situations and conditions of
Hijra community in India.
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