Become a feminist infection! (HB, p. 83)
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Feminist killjoys are perhaps most known for their cultural criticisms. We are the ones who always ruin a movie or song by pointing out the underlying sexism, racism, etc… We aren’t made happy by the things that make other people happy and therefore refuse to laugh at jokes that aren’t funny. Like an infection, we spread misery.
“Book it:” Read HB Ch. 3. What does it mean for a killjoy to be a cultural critic? What are Ahmed’s foundational arguments and concepts that lead to the killjoy to cultural criticism? She spends a lot of time discussing happiness, so you should address it too! What does it mean to have “happiness literacy?” How does it relate to the killjoy generally, and as a cultural critic more specifically?
“Live it:” How has the killjoy as cultural critic showed up in your life? (You may consider yourself the killjoy, experiencing the critique “1st hand” and/or you may consider the criticism “at arm’s length” by recounting an experience where someone else has performed the killjoy cultural critique. Just PLEASE focus on a real-world example you had personal proximity to. If you were the killjoy cultural critic – did you understand your critique to be “feminism” in the moment, or after our readings/reflection? Explain. If you experienced someone else’s critique – similarly discuss your reactions in the moment vs. your understandings of the critique now that you have done the readings.
“Make it:” Cultural criticism in the sense that Ahmed envisions it, is largely about making apparent what goes unnoticed by most people. Killjoys look more closely at things because they are not affected in the “same” or “right” ways as others (HB, p. 82). We are not made happy by what we are told should make us happy. On page 82 of the chapter Ahmed says that happiness “can be turned into a story we tell about ourselves [as a culture]. Feminist killjoys become cultural critics when we show what is removed from that story.” “Write,” sing, record, dance, draw, paint the story of happiness in the US including or simply focusing on the parts that have been removed by mainstream storytellers.
For an interesting and helpful of “making” cultural criticism via art, check out what teen artists MADE when they were posed the question: “What is it like to be a teen right now?” Their art was showcased at the American University Museum and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Read about it HERE.
