Short Course Description
This course proposes a critical analysis of local representations of masculinity, femininity, heterosexuality, romantic love and sexual violence in order to examine the relevance of the term ?rape culture? to Israeli society. This term, which has recently become central to feminist discourses in academia and on the web (and may even have informed the Me Too Movement), assumes reciprocal relations between the mainstream culture?s attitude towards women and the extent of sexual violence in the society. The premise of the term raises questions regarding the role the culture plays in producing and reproducing sexist mechanisms in general, and sexual violence against women in particular. By analyzing different cultural representations, our discussion will attempt to address the following questions: How is sexual violence represented in local media within different social contexts? Are there fixed forms of representation and if so, what do they uphold and unfold? What type of language is used to describe sexual attraction on the one hand, and sexual coercion on the other? What can be the prices and the benefits of establishing the term ?rape culture? in the local arena? What would a culture without rape look like?
Course requirements: attendance, completing course readings on time, active participation, intermediate assignment (10%) and final paper (90%).
