Having done a fair amount of academic work in theory involving queer studies in some form or fashion, I am aware of many of the concepts we've been reading about. Here, I will discuss some of the things that furthered my understanding of certain concepts or aspects of queer studies.

1.) The Jagose book helped me a great deal on the Queer attitudes towards sexual labeling. Labeling is a fraught idea because of the reductive, definitive nature of its action. When this is done to human beings, it can become so problematic that it causes psychological distress or even harm. Labeling is designed to keep things within certain bounds. The motivations for this are usually caused by anxiety from the different.

2.) The concept of normalizing discourses helped me a great deal in my reading. This shows the way norms are brought about through the neglecting of ruptures, progress or movement. To me, this was the equal of atrophy. The image of a withered, unused body seemed to connect me to "normalizing discourses." That which we do not exercise, move around, and help grow will end up dying. In this case, it will also hold back others. I think of this whenever I hear people on Fox News talk about "Traditional American Values." How did tradition get such a great reputation? This of course doesn't mean that we should fix something that isn't broken, but to consistently apply wd40 and work the kinks out.

3.) Jagose has given me a whole arsenal of ideas to use when describing the notion of Queerness. Before, I just did not have to words to explain that it wishes to be "unfixed" and that it is "holding open a space whose potential can never be known in the present." Before this book, I could only say that it was a very abstract idea about sexuality. Now, I can speak to other people about it somewhat intelligently and eloquently.

4.)  Something that I had never read much about, at any real length, was Judith Butler's ideas on gender trouble. This was fascinating to me, and I had a bit of a time wrapping my mind around the split between sex and gender, and the pre-discursive/discursive debate. The distance between one's body and sexuality has never seemed further than when reading Butler. Her ideas are revolutionary and insightful. Especially on the givenness, or lack therof, of sex by physical traits alone.

5.)  Foucault's number one mindblower for me was his, almost linear, tracing of our current state of sexuality from the 17th century. This was such a focused and interesting read that I was shocked some of it hadn't really hit me before now. The sections involving the church are some of the most interesting. I feel that religious practices are so concerned with their own reputations that they are not willing to improve their institutions once shortcoming have been brought into the spotlight. I have to say that Foucault's book has been the best read for me so far.

These are the main points of interest and education for me thus far. I cannot wait for the second half of the semester to get started this Tuesday. I am really enjoying all of the readings, and especially the discussions of the readings, this semester. See everybody soon!