Author: Arpita Govil

How would you define “queerness”? Is it the state of simply being “not straight” or something more complex, like challenging the mainstream normative notions of gender and sexuality? The former definition can be very restrictive because a) it places more focus on sexuality and does not include non-normative gender identities as well and b) it… Continue reading Queerness: From the West to the Rest

I have chosen the key-word Queerness. DEFINITION: I think it is an intersectionality of multiple identities that challenges the mainstream, heteronormative ideas of gender and sexuality. PURPOSE: I intend to create a blog post. An example of this format is the Huffington Post, and some of the generic conventions of this format are 1) educational presentation on a sub topic,… Continue reading Reading Journal – 10

I have chosen the word “queerness” for my final project wherein I aim to highlight the need to take a transnational approach to queerness that is inclusive to how queerness is defined across all cultures instead of the globalized definition of queerness that universalizes queer identities and experiences which leads to an erasure of unique,… Continue reading Reading Journal – 9

For this essay, I did a close reading on one of the pages from a graphic novel called The Prince and the Dressmaker in which I argued how Jen Wang, the author, uses the sculpture of a knight and a princess to give the audience an idea about how the protagonist of the novel, Sebastien,… Continue reading Reading Journal – 8

With increasing school work, I have been stressed and meaning to cook Indian food because it reminds me of home and gives me comfort. So, this weekend, my friend and I made Kadhai Paneer with rice which was really fun and relaxing and it also gave me a chance to spend some time with them… Continue reading Reading Journal – 7

I have chosen to close read The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang which is a graphic novel about Sebastian, who is the crown prince of Belgium by day and a fashion icon who puts on bold and glamorous dresses as the Lady Crystallia by night, and Frances, who is an aspiring dressmaker hoping… Continue reading Reading Journal – 5

Medical doctor who argued men can have babies should probably avoid Twitter for a while When I first saw just the headline, it was called “Medical doctor who argued men can have babies should probably avoid Twitter for a while” but after I clicked on it, I saw the article was actually titled “Planned Parenthood… Continue reading Reading Journal 4 – Arpita Govil

What’s Up?” – 4 Non Blondes I will be analyzing this song called “What’s Up” by a band called 4 Non Blondes which falls under the rock music genre not just because this song is performed by a rock band where the members are all wearing punk-style outfits in the music video or because of… Continue reading Reading Journal – Prompt 3

In order to be utilized, our erotic feelings must be recognized. The need for sharing deep feeling is a human need. But within the European-American tradition, this need is satisfied by certain proscribed erotic comings-together. These occasions are almost always characterized by a simultaneous looking away, a pretense of calling them something else, whether a… Continue reading Journal 2 – Arpita Govil