Methods in Postmodernity Basic Points of Foucault excerpt on “Method” in History of Sexuality, Vol.I Connect to Bourdieu Distinction Connect to Butler’s “Subjects of Sex…” in Gender Trouble Review the collected examples of 70s-80s Postmodernity, looking for “post- structuralism” on the ground…

Foucault on Method (in Postmodern moment) Single most important point: Intentions and Subjectivity cannot be privileged The “nonsubjective” is as important in the “sphere of force relations” In METHOD, we only have access to the nonsubjective – Nothing under the skull Identity and Subjectivity are one element of “Power” among many others

Foucault on Method (in Postmodern moment) Rule of Immanence – Method starts at “local centers” – in examples and cases Rule of Continual Variation – Method looks for “matrices of transformation” – over time Rule of Double Conditioning – Method connects these above by locating specific tactics in a “strategic envelope” Rule of Polyvalent Discourse – “communication” is the site of both method and power-knowledge. We/they only have access to discourse. Although Foucault codifies and lists here, keep in mind this is his own strategy/tactic for communication – we should apply his method to his own writing in turn to create a holistic approach… don’t accept the “rules” blindly.

Move to Bourdieu, Distinction At face value, an excellent critique of modernism But again, like Foucault, in method/theory, the main point: Subjective Tastes do no more than code class distinctions into public view. “Eye is a product of history reproduced by education” (p.467) … “Intention is itself the product of social norms and conventions…” (p.472) METHOD borrows from the Class Struggle implicit in the bourgeoise “pure gaze” pitted against the Popular Implication (looking back now…) in postmodernity, the logic of the museum (“aesthetic disposition becomes an institution”) is applied everywhere to everyday life, the aesthetic intention pervades, and therefore a culture of “unlimited receptiveness” (p )

Is Distinction now simply common sense… We now “buy” class position, the distinction of consumption is understood Nascar-DoubleDouble-WalMart consumer culture as POLITICAL opposite of “elitist” Latte- Brie-Ballet-Obama voters The logic of the museum (“aesthetic disposition becomes an institution”) is applied everywhere to everyday life, the aesthetic intention pervades, and therefore a culture of “unlimited receptiveness” (p )

Butler, Gender Trouble Like Bourdieu, Method is the inseparability of identities Like Foucault, Method of genealogy relies on the Subject being prior to their representation, a result of institutions… Gender prescribes Sex (and theory of social construction of gender hides that) Time to try to define post-structuralism…