SlideShare une entreprise Scribd logo
1  sur  13
Télécharger pour lire hors ligne
The Laugh of the Medusaby: Hélène Cixous (1975),[object Object],Presented by: Kristen Shepard,[object Object]
Introduction,[object Object],Written in 70’s at height of Women’s Liberation Movement.,[object Object],Why is it titled “The Laugh of the Medusa?”,[object Object],Medusa is a mythical female figure known for her stare which turned “victims” (especially men) into stone.,[object Object],So is Medusa laughing because she overcomes male dominance?,[object Object]
Main Idea,[object Object],Women can either read the essay and “choose to stay trapped in their own bodies by a language that does not allow them to express themselves, or they can use their bodies as a way to communicate.”,[object Object],The language regularly expected is male centered which hinders the women’s ability to “truly” express herself as a woman.,[object Object]
I. The Future vs. the Past,[object Object],The hope for change in the future by women writing as women for women,[object Object],Belief that “the future must no longer be determined by the past” (1643),[object Object],Effects of the past are still with us, but refusal to repeat them will strengthen the future ,[object Object],Need to escape repressive past,[object Object],Men who typically repress women,[object Object],Women who go against other women because of male influence,[object Object]
I. The Future vs. the Past (cont.) ,[object Object],Says talks about the “mark of our time” and goes on to say it is a “time during which the new breaks away from the old, and, more precisely, the (feminine) new from the old (la nouvelle de l’ancien).  Thus, as there are no grounds for establishing a discourse, but rather an arid millennial ground to break, what I say has at least two sides and two aims: to break up, to destroy; and to foresee the unforeseeable, to project.”  (1643),[object Object],Negative references about women – “dark, bad, witches, abyss, below, and beyond”,[object Object]
II. Women’s Repression,[object Object],Women led to hate women by men’s influence (self-hate/antinarcissism),[object Object],Women’s repression leads to the need to speak (break from silence),[object Object],Few “real” feminine writings; many women writings follow male conventions,[object Object],Poetry only exception, but the form is more emotion based (thus okay for women - fairies),[object Object]
III. Women’s Liberation,[object Object],Women’s need to be heard (Connection between body and speech),[object Object],Women must “write themselves” (1643),[object Object],Idea of mother in every woman “white ink” – all women has ability to nurture with milk (Again connecting women’s body with writing),[object Object],Comparison between women writing and female masturbation,[object Object],		 ― Both give women pleasure,[object Object],	   	 ― Women made to feel guilt afterward,[object Object],	 ― Both must be done in private and not    	      public sphere,[object Object]
IV. Concept of Bisexuality,[object Object],Women who “cut themselves out a paper penis” (1649),[object Object],Writing is neuter, thus bisexual,[object Object],In essence in between typical binary,[object Object],“Each one’s location in self . . . variously manifest and insistent according to each person, male or female . . .” (1649),[object Object],Men’s fear of being a woman by castration (wish not to be “bisexual”),[object Object],Fantasy of “total” being (though composed of two halves),[object Object]
V. The Dark Continent,[object Object],Connection between female and dark,[object Object],“Neither dark nor unexplorable” (1650),[object Object],Men made women believe in “white continent” (connects to men/dominant) with monuments to Lack,[object Object],Put women “between two horrifying myths:  between the Medusa and the abyss” (1650),[object Object],Medusa usually depicted as ugly woman with head full of phallic snakes,[object Object],The abyss is frightening because it is unknown and mysterious and could be harboring monsters in the dark,[object Object]
VI. The Flying Mother,[object Object],When the repressed collective "woman" returns it will be an explosive return,[object Object],Woman has always functioned within the discourse of man, she must invent her own language,[object Object],Flying is woman's language.  Woman can fly because she can both give her body unselfishly (she does this in flight, when she does not cling to her body), and she can claim the joyous benefits of her body for herself.,[object Object],“Voler” also means to steal,[object Object],Fly is metaphor for obtaining own voice,[object Object]
*Something to Think About,[object Object],Cixous uses the word “flying” to describe a sense of escape for women.  If we consider mythology for a second, Pegasus, a white, winged horse sprang from Medusa’s head after she was killed by Perseus.  The head is typically associated with the male (head=reason/logic) and white horses usually symbolize freedom and power.  The question then may arise (considering Cixous references) does it mean that the male was at the core of this “evil” female all along or does it mean that male power and logic has roots in the female?  (This would connect considering Cixous references women as nurturers and the bearing of children). ,[object Object]
VII. Some Notable Influences,[object Object],Sigmund Freud,[object Object],Gender roles ,[object Object],Sexual identity,[object Object],Oedipal complex – “the only good father is a dead one” (1654),[object Object],Mention of penis envy,[object Object],Jacques Derrida,[object Object],Signified and signifier,[object Object],Link between speech and writing,[object Object],Logocentrism,[object Object],Binary opposition,[object Object],Jacques Lacan,[object Object],Symbol for desire,[object Object],Development of gender roles in childhood,[object Object],Combined Derrida and Lacan’s theories to create term phallogocentrism,[object Object]
Discussion Questions,[object Object],1.	What justification is there for Hélène Cixous to compare female writing to the female body and how does that differ from their male counterparts?  Cixous also makes a connection between writing and speaking.  What does this say about her beliefs in women’s voices and the restraint thereof?,[object Object],2.	What does Cixous mean by the “universal woman” (1644) and how does that compare to Butler’s reference to a “natural woman” in Aretha Franklin’s song?,[object Object],3.	 In what ways does Cixous use the idea of “lack” or other “Other” classifications?  ,[object Object]

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak?
Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak? Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak?
Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak? Santhiya Ramadas
 
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticism
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticismPaper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticism
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticismKiran vora
 
The comedy of menace
The comedy of menaceThe comedy of menace
The comedy of menaceSalma Agueb
 
Can the Subaltern Speak?
Can the Subaltern Speak?Can the Subaltern Speak?
Can the Subaltern Speak?ishasajnani
 
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
The French Lieutenant’s WomanThe French Lieutenant’s Woman
The French Lieutenant’s WomanDhanesh Sebastian
 
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for GodotSemuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for GodotAhsana Idris
 
Research in French Feminist Literary Theory
Research in French Feminist Literary TheoryResearch in French Feminist Literary Theory
Research in French Feminist Literary Theoryorrinali
 
Symbols in Midnight's Children
Symbols in Midnight's ChildrenSymbols in Midnight's Children
Symbols in Midnight's ChildrenDilip Barad
 
Deconstruction : A literary theory
Deconstruction : A literary theoryDeconstruction : A literary theory
Deconstruction : A literary theoryChandaniPandya3
 
New historicism
New historicismNew historicism
New historicismumabagohil
 
Feminism
FeminismFeminism
Feminism143_m
 
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"Devangibagohil
 
modern tragedy by raymond williams
modern tragedy by raymond williamsmodern tragedy by raymond williams
modern tragedy by raymond williamsIqramushtaq1142
 

Tendances (20)

Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak?
Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak? Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak?
Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak?
 
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticism
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticismPaper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticism
Paper 7 The literary theory and criticism 2 - Eco-criticism
 
The comedy of menace
The comedy of menaceThe comedy of menace
The comedy of menace
 
Can the Subaltern Speak?
Can the Subaltern Speak?Can the Subaltern Speak?
Can the Subaltern Speak?
 
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
The French Lieutenant’s WomanThe French Lieutenant’s Woman
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
 
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for GodotSemuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Semuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
 
Research in French Feminist Literary Theory
Research in French Feminist Literary TheoryResearch in French Feminist Literary Theory
Research in French Feminist Literary Theory
 
Deconstuction
Deconstuction Deconstuction
Deconstuction
 
Death of author
Death of authorDeath of author
Death of author
 
Symbols in Midnight's Children
Symbols in Midnight's ChildrenSymbols in Midnight's Children
Symbols in Midnight's Children
 
Paper 8
Paper 8Paper 8
Paper 8
 
New Criticism
New Criticism New Criticism
New Criticism
 
Deconstruction : A literary theory
Deconstruction : A literary theoryDeconstruction : A literary theory
Deconstruction : A literary theory
 
Joseph Andrews
Joseph Andrews Joseph Andrews
Joseph Andrews
 
Joseph andrews
Joseph andrewsJoseph andrews
Joseph andrews
 
New historicism
New historicismNew historicism
New historicism
 
Feminism
FeminismFeminism
Feminism
 
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"
Critical Analysis Of "The Waiting For Barbarians"
 
modern tragedy by raymond williams
modern tragedy by raymond williamsmodern tragedy by raymond williams
modern tragedy by raymond williams
 
Analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication"
Analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication"Analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication"
Analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication"
 

En vedette

Outline of Laugh of Medusa
Outline of Laugh of MedusaOutline of Laugh of Medusa
Outline of Laugh of MedusaDebbie Gascoyne
 
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in Carmilla
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in CarmillaDeadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in Carmilla
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in CarmillaMegan Mize
 
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical Malpractice
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical MalpracticeGender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical Malpractice
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical MalpracticeVeronica Drantz, PhD
 
Adrienne rich 2012_3
Adrienne rich 2012_3Adrienne rich 2012_3
Adrienne rich 2012_3Chasewdye
 
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentation
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentationSortie scolaire PowerPoint presentation
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentationfabienne123
 
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnold
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnoldhebreism and hellenism by matthew arnold
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnoldsolankijayshree
 
paper:6 Victorian Literature
paper:6 Victorian Literaturepaper:6 Victorian Literature
paper:6 Victorian Literaturejanki2090
 
Mito de Medusa
Mito de MedusaMito de Medusa
Mito de MedusaBelenchita
 
Historia de la escritura para bachillerato
Historia de la escritura para bachilleratoHistoria de la escritura para bachillerato
Historia de la escritura para bachilleratojjcdoval
 
Lesbian slideshow
Lesbian slideshowLesbian slideshow
Lesbian slideshowKyra Lollar
 
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouse
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The LighthousePapar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouse
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouseashadodiya15
 
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special cases
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special casesultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special cases
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special casesMehmet Akin
 
What is orientalism
What is orientalismWhat is orientalism
What is orientalismankimakwana
 

En vedette (20)

Outline of Laugh of Medusa
Outline of Laugh of MedusaOutline of Laugh of Medusa
Outline of Laugh of Medusa
 
Medusa
MedusaMedusa
Medusa
 
Makalah cixous
Makalah cixousMakalah cixous
Makalah cixous
 
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in Carmilla
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in CarmillaDeadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in Carmilla
Deadly Desires: The Uncanny, The Abject, and Gender in Carmilla
 
Rich1.Ppt
Rich1.PptRich1.Ppt
Rich1.Ppt
 
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical Malpractice
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical MalpracticeGender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical Malpractice
Gender Binary & LGBTI People - Myth and Medical Malpractice
 
Adrienne rich 2012_3
Adrienne rich 2012_3Adrienne rich 2012_3
Adrienne rich 2012_3
 
La iliada
La iliadaLa iliada
La iliada
 
LAS 3 GORGONAS
LAS 3 GORGONASLAS 3 GORGONAS
LAS 3 GORGONAS
 
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentation
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentationSortie scolaire PowerPoint presentation
Sortie scolaire PowerPoint presentation
 
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnold
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnoldhebreism and hellenism by matthew arnold
hebreism and hellenism by matthew arnold
 
paper:6 Victorian Literature
paper:6 Victorian Literaturepaper:6 Victorian Literature
paper:6 Victorian Literature
 
Medusa presentacion
Medusa presentacionMedusa presentacion
Medusa presentacion
 
Mito de Medusa
Mito de MedusaMito de Medusa
Mito de Medusa
 
Historia de la escritura para bachillerato
Historia de la escritura para bachilleratoHistoria de la escritura para bachillerato
Historia de la escritura para bachillerato
 
Lesbian slideshow
Lesbian slideshowLesbian slideshow
Lesbian slideshow
 
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouse
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The LighthousePapar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouse
Papar 9 Symbolism in " To The Lighthouse
 
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special cases
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special casesultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special cases
ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations: special cases
 
What is orientalism
What is orientalismWhat is orientalism
What is orientalism
 
El mito de Perseo
El mito de PerseoEl mito de Perseo
El mito de Perseo
 

Similaire à The laugh of the medusa

Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...
 Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S... Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...
Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...Kara Webber
 
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love Poetry
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love PoetryDeciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love Poetry
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love PoetryTiffany Sostar
 
Aphrodite Research Paper
Aphrodite Research PaperAphrodite Research Paper
Aphrodite Research PaperJessica Cotter
 
Portrayal Of Women In The Iliad
Portrayal Of Women In The IliadPortrayal Of Women In The Iliad
Portrayal Of Women In The IliadAngie Lee
 
Archetypes In The Odyssey
Archetypes In The OdysseyArchetypes In The Odyssey
Archetypes In The OdysseyAmanda Crow
 
Zero Sum Superheroes V3
Zero Sum Superheroes V3Zero Sum Superheroes V3
Zero Sum Superheroes V3Richard Eskow
 
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.Jim Webb
 
Demythologization Of Virginity
Demythologization Of VirginityDemythologization Of Virginity
Demythologization Of VirginityErin Adams
 
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...Casey Hudson
 
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth Essay
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth EssayGeeks Shall Inherit The Earth Essay
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth EssayKatrina Banks
 
Women In The 19Th And 20Th Century
Women In The 19Th And 20Th CenturyWomen In The 19Th And 20Th Century
Women In The 19Th And 20Th CenturyStephanie Williams
 
Origin Of Runes Research Paper
Origin Of Runes Research PaperOrigin Of Runes Research Paper
Origin Of Runes Research PaperKatyana Londono
 
Treatment Of Women In Candide
Treatment Of Women In CandideTreatment Of Women In Candide
Treatment Of Women In CandideKim Isleb
 

Similaire à The laugh of the medusa (20)

Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...
 Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S... Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...
Compare Racial And Cultural Struggles In Alice Walker’S...
 
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love Poetry
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love PoetryDeciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love Poetry
Deciphering Ideologies of Feminine Sex and Gender in Elizabethan Love Poetry
 
Engl 410 unessay
Engl 410 unessayEngl 410 unessay
Engl 410 unessay
 
FEMINIST THEORY.pptx
FEMINIST THEORY.pptxFEMINIST THEORY.pptx
FEMINIST THEORY.pptx
 
Pope Essay On Criticism Analysis
Pope Essay On Criticism AnalysisPope Essay On Criticism Analysis
Pope Essay On Criticism Analysis
 
Alexander Pope And Women Essay Example
Alexander Pope And Women Essay ExampleAlexander Pope And Women Essay Example
Alexander Pope And Women Essay Example
 
Aphrodite Research Paper
Aphrodite Research PaperAphrodite Research Paper
Aphrodite Research Paper
 
Portrayal Of Women In The Iliad
Portrayal Of Women In The IliadPortrayal Of Women In The Iliad
Portrayal Of Women In The Iliad
 
Archetypes In The Odyssey
Archetypes In The OdysseyArchetypes In The Odyssey
Archetypes In The Odyssey
 
Zero Sum Superheroes V3
Zero Sum Superheroes V3Zero Sum Superheroes V3
Zero Sum Superheroes V3
 
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.
A Different Perspective On Woolf S Mrs. Dalloway.
 
Demythologization Of Virginity
Demythologization Of VirginityDemythologization Of Virginity
Demythologization Of Virginity
 
Sonnet 30
Sonnet 30Sonnet 30
Sonnet 30
 
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...
Comparatve Essay On The Fat Black Womans Poems, Sula And...
 
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth Essay
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth EssayGeeks Shall Inherit The Earth Essay
Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth Essay
 
Dr. Sam Ladkin, 'The Art of Masturbation'
Dr. Sam Ladkin, 'The Art of Masturbation'Dr. Sam Ladkin, 'The Art of Masturbation'
Dr. Sam Ladkin, 'The Art of Masturbation'
 
Women In The 19Th And 20Th Century
Women In The 19Th And 20Th CenturyWomen In The 19Th And 20Th Century
Women In The 19Th And 20Th Century
 
Origin Of Runes Research Paper
Origin Of Runes Research PaperOrigin Of Runes Research Paper
Origin Of Runes Research Paper
 
Mary Wollstonecraft Chapter 7 Summary
Mary Wollstonecraft Chapter 7 SummaryMary Wollstonecraft Chapter 7 Summary
Mary Wollstonecraft Chapter 7 Summary
 
Treatment Of Women In Candide
Treatment Of Women In CandideTreatment Of Women In Candide
Treatment Of Women In Candide
 

The laugh of the medusa

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.