George, I just knew I shouldn’t have taunted UNC when I named that NC Wesleyan class the Course of the Month!
But no, I couldn’t resist ? “move over, UNC’s German 006: Canine Cultural Studies1 ? here is Prof. Jane Christensen of North Carolina Wesleyan’s Political Science 495: “911 The Road to Tyranny,” I wrote.
I should have considered the repercussions of such a taunt. Namely the reaction, clear now in hindsight, of “Move over? Forget that ? we’ll just move right in!”
Note
1. Speaking of “Canine Cultural Studies,” a site called “Queer Matters” has posted an abstract on the topic of “Queer Pets” from the instructor, UNC prof. Alice Kuzniar:
… If queer has brilliantly questioned heteronormativity and if, in response to the strict divide between gay and straight, it has given voice to a range of sexual expressions, then it too can be helpful in opening up an investigation of non-normative bonds of affection and intimacy between humans and their closest nonhumans–their pets. …
The fear of arousing the suspicion of beastiality prevents us from approaching the inordinate affection for pets as a queer topic. (I could talk here about hatemail received from students in a course I taught on Canine Cultural Studies when I discussed women and dogs). This very fear needs to be examined: why is it that affection and the erotic pleasure derived from stroking and embracing one’s pet becomes unutterable? Unfortunately, queasiness–either about the hint of sexuality or, its opposite, sentimentality–has even led to the avoidance of the profoundly serious topic of intimacy with pets. This topic thus offers a provocative new avenue for queer investigation. After having edited the first book to appear on 18th-century literary expression of same-sex desire in Outing Goethe and His Age and after having recast German cinema as The Queer German Cinema (Stanford UP, 2000), I am excited about this new way in which queer can let me address my passions! I’m sure many other queer dog lovers at the conference would share them!
