POLS 590 Professor Lida Maxwell

Boston University LMaxwell@bu.edu

Fall 2018 Office: Political Science 206
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 12-2, and by appt

The Politics of Love

Thursdays, 3:30-6:15pm
Room: CAS 314

Course Description:

This political theory course examines 20th and 21st century historical, literary, and
theoretical depictions of love in politics. Love is often depicted as a force that can
productively transcend political division. Yet many political thinkers warn that appeals to
love in politics – for example, on behalf of gay marriage or racial justice – serve merely
to distract us from political problems, oppression, and inequality. Should we see love as a
potent political resource, or a dangerous political fantasy? Does love express our
common humanity, or does it reinforce heteronormativity and racial inequality?

Course Mechanics:

This is an upper level political theory seminar based in class discussion. For this reason,
each student should come to class with the relevant texts in hand, prepared with questions
(about the broader meaning of the text, about particular passages, or about connections
with other texts we are reading in the course) and ready to have a lively class discussion
centered on the course material. To this end, each student is required to give a
presentation on the readings once during the semester (I will distribute guidelines)
and to write 1-2 page response papers (single spaced) about the readings for each
class. This response should include summary and critical questions that you would like
raised in class. You must email me this response by 5pm the night before class, so that I
can incorporate your questions into my plans for the day.

*There are no laptops, cellphones, tablets, or other electronic devices allowed in

class.
*You must bring course readings to class (failure to do so will impact your
participation grade).

Course Requirements:

1) Attendance and Participation: 15%

2) Presentation: 10%
3) Response Papers: 20%
4) Short Paper (Due 10/29): 20%
5) Final Paper (Due 12/14): 35%
*You may turn in one paper 24 hours late, no questions asked, during the course of the
semester. Just be sure to email me in advance of the deadline to let me know that you are
taking the extension.

*Your work must be your own and your essays must be adequately cited; to do otherwise
is to plagiarize. Plagiarism – the passing off of other people’s words and ideas as
your own – will be severely penalized. Please refer to the BU Academic Conduct code
for further information: http://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/academic-conduct-code/

*Inconsistent attendance may seriously affect your grade.

Required Books (available for purchase at college bookstore):

*Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition

*Lauren Berlant, The Female Complaint
*James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
*James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room
*Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider
*Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts
*Toni Morrison, Sula

Thursday, September 6th

*Introduction

Thursday, September 13th

Arendt, The Human Condition, Parts I & II

Thursday, September 20th

Arendt, The Human Condition, Parts III & IV

*Recommended:

Julia Kristeva, Hannah Arendt

Lori Marso, “Birthing Feminist Freedom,”
https://medium.com/@arendt_center/birthing-feminist-freedom-985847049ec1
Thursday, September 27th

NO CLASS

Thursday, October 4th

Arendt, The Human Condition, Part V

Thursday, October 11th

Berlant, The Female Complaint, Introduction, Ch. 1-3, 5

Thursday, October 18th

James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Recommended:

*Lawrie Balfour, The Evidence of Things Not Said: James Baldwin and the
Promise of American Democracy (Cornell, 2001)
*George Shulman, American Prophecy: Race and Redemption in American
Political Culture (Minnesota, 2008)
*Lisa Beard, “‘Flesh of Their Flesh, Bone of Their Bone’: James Baldwin’s
Racial Politics of Boundedness” (Contemporary Political Theory 2016)

*Short paper topics passed out in class

*REQUIRED EVENT: Film Screening of “What is Democracy?” with panel,

featuring filmmaker (Astra Taylor) and others. 5pm, Photonics 206.

Thursday, October 25th

*Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room

*Exchange of letters between Baldwin & Arendt on love (Blackboard)

*Short papers due Monday, October 29th

Thursday, November 1st

*Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider (selections)

Thursday, November 8th

*Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider (selections)

Thursday, November 15th

*Sara Ahmed, “In the Name of Love,” from The Cultural Politics of Emotions
(Blackboard)
*Jennifer Nash, “Practicing Love: Black Feminism, Love-Politics, and Post-
Intersectionality” (Blackboard)
*Sonu Bedi, “Sexual Racism: Intimacy as a Matter of Justice” (Blackboard)
*Kathi Weeks, “Down with Love” (Verso blog post:
https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3614-down-with-love-feminist-critique-and-the-new-
ideologies-of-work)

Thursday, November 22nd

NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING BREAK

Thursday, November 29th

*Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts

Thursday, December 6th

*Toni Morrison, Sula

*Final Paper due Friday, December 14th