Q: How cool is this? A: Pretty cool!

[fflo]

upcoming "Fat and the Academy" conference at Smith

There's an "emerging field of Fat Studies"? With a "current flourishing of scholarship" in its multi-disciplinary self? Hunh. Wow. I mean, I know about people working in the area, and a scholarly element of the resistance, but the notion of a toehold in the academy is news to me. Leave it to one of the Five Colleges/Seven Sisters to organize such a conference. And I used to make fun of them "sweater girls."

Some people & titles:
• Kathleen LeBesco, "Queer Tactics in Fat Politics: An Assessment"
• To The Earth (Tribal Bellydance), followed by the Royal Renegades (the Philadelphia Drag Kings)
• Paul McAleer, "Blog This: How You - Yes, You - Have Changed the Media's Stance on Fat."
• Stefanie Snider, "Fat Girls and Size Queens: Visual Productions of the Fat and Queer Self in Contemporary American Culture"
• Pattie Thomas, "Fat as Social Problem, Social Stigma as Solution"
• Paul Campos, "Ask Your Doctor if Cultural Hysteria is Right For You"
• Marilyn Wann, "Fat Liberation 101 - Life's Too Short for Self-Hatred & Celery Sticks!"

Comments

[atleastdefiant.livejournal.com]

Sounds exciting, especially Wann. Academia and movements always a little scary when you're personally invested. I turn into some nitpicking fiend, wanting every nuance exactly right. In this case though, I'm sick of the push to disprove and rebuff the negativity. Screw the negativity. I wish chubbies could cut to the chase and get to the "Fat is Beautiful" stage. Because it's so, so sexy, and acknowledging that shouldn't be a revolutionary thing.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

Duuude. So right on. Though of course my inner American fat chick has its kneejerk backlashy hesitation at your closing enthusiasm there.

I've kinda always thought this particular struggle is destined to lag behind, perenially winning the Least Envelope-Pushing Award. Even trannies have zipped ahead in self-celebratory acceptance, and have the boost of a certain (resultant?) cachet, at least for the moment. (In the long run, of course, who knows what'll happen there.)

Maybe we need an equivalent of the Power fist. The fat-related defiant gesture. It's just so hard to do anything quick and simple with your bare ass...