Info for Virtual Make-Up Class Meeting

Hello All,

I’ve got to apologize to all of you; I didn’t realize that I’d forgotten to send out the information about our make-up class tonight until just now!

Please remember that this is an OPTIONAL make-up/extra-help class; I won’t be taking attendance and you won’t lose or gain any “grade points” by attending or missing this class.  If you can better use this time to work on assignments for our class or for your other classes, feel free to do so!

I will be here until 7:15 basically just holding virtual office hours.  I’ve not prepared anything for this evening; if you join, please come with questions!

CLICK HERE to join our virtual class meeting.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

No Zoom Meeting Tonight Weds. 5/12!

Hello All,

I am extremely sorry to do this to all of you, but I am not up to our virtual class tonight.  I’m pretty sick (no, it’s not the coronavirus but  a side-effect of my medical problems).  I have prescription medication for these episodes, but it makes me very sleepy and loopy; ergo, not in good shape to conduct class.

Luckily I’d already planned on an extra class at the usual time on Monday!  Now it can be a make-up class for tonight and will give me a chance to say good-bye to all of you “in person.”  (Monday’s class is still optional.)

In the meantime, please keep checking the website and your email.  Also everyone watch the following PBS documentary on the Stonewall Uprising – I was planning to show at least part of it in class tonight.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Virtual Class Meeting Tonight, Mon. 5/11, at 6:00

Hello All,

We have a virtual Zoom class meeting tonight, Monday 5/11, from 6:00 – 7:15.

CLICK HERE to join the class meeting.

Remember that tonight we will be talking only about the final research paper and research methods.  Please come with questions!  CLICK HERE to read the directions for the final research paper.

“See” you all soon,

Prof. Jaime Weida

List of All Graded Assignments this Semester

Hello All,

Below are all the graded assignments we’ve had this semester.  I’m posting them here so that you have all the information in one place in case you are missing any of them.

THE LAST DATE/TIME TO TURN IN ANY ASSIGNMENTS IS FRIDAY 5/22 AT 11:59 PM.  Due to the extraordinary circumstances this semester, the usual lateness penalties do not apply.

A missing assignment counts as an F.

SHORT ESSAYS: All of these together make up 50% of your total class grade.  I WILL BE DROPPING THE LOWEST SHORT ESSAY GRADE (this includes a missing grade).

• First Short Essay
  • Introductory assignment – why you registered for this class and what the word “Queer” means to you
• Second Short Essay
  • Discussion of Walt Whitman or Oscar Wilde (EMAIL ME if you are missing this essay)
• Third Short Essay
  • This was an open-topic response paper.
  • Choose whichever aspect of The Well of Loneliness you would like to discuss, including contextualizing it in terms of past and/or present society.
  • Your short essay needs to be at least one page long, not including the essay heading
• Fourth Short Essay
  • Pick any one work we have read since the last short essay.  This means works by:
    • Audre Lorde
    • Billy Martin
    • Caitlin R. Kiernan
    • Sam J. Miller
  • Analyze and discuss the work you choose from your own perspective (this is essentially a “choose your own topic”) assignment
  • Your short essay needs to be at least one page long, not including the essay heading
• Fifth Short Essay
  • Write your own work of Queer literature!
  • This is a creative writing assignment.  You may write whatever you’d like, as long as it fits under the umbrella of Queer literature.
  • Some possibilities include:
    • Write your own short story or poem
    • Write a screenplay (or part of one) or a song
    • Create a video document or podcast
    • Create a work of visual art (must provide pictures and an explanation of the work)
    • Write a prequel or sequel to something we’ve read this semester
    • Write a work of Queer literature inspired by something we’ve read this semester

FINAL RESEARCH PAPER: This paper is worth 30% of your total class grade

• CLICK HERE for the paper directions

Stay Safe and Healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

John Constantine’s Sexuality

Hello All,

I just thought this was interesting – those of you who are into comics and/or superheroes may know of the character of John Constantine, who was created back in the 1980s by Alan Moore during Moore’s tenure writing The Swamp Thing for DC.  Like Wonder Woman, for a while Constantine has been canonically bisexual in the comics and in media adaptions.  However, it was recently announced that Constantine had a relationship with the character King Shark, which makes him (and I am quoting from the article below) “bi-specieal.”

Click the image below to read the article:

I am…not sure what I think about this in terms of representation.  However, comics and superheroes are currently a HUGE cultural touchstone and source of inspiration and role models for children, young people, and adults as well.  I think it’s important to consider the amount of and effects of Queer representation in this incredibly popular genre of pop culture.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Updates on BMCC Policies

Hello All,

I am trying my best to keep all of you updated about changing BMCC policies during this confusing time.  I’ve mentioned all of the below, but here they are in one place for you reference:

• All summer classes will be online.
• Right now there is no final decision about whether or not all fall 2020 classes will also be online.  In a meeting earlier this week, we were told there is a very good chance that will happen.  This should be decided by early June and I’m sure there will be an update on the BMCC website.
• If you owe $4,000 or less from spring 2020, you will still be allowed to register for fall 202o classes.  However, you’ll have to pay whatever you owe BMCC before fall classes start.
• If you are on academic probation, you will not be dismissed based on your grades this semester.  The probation will carry over into fall.
• You will have 20 days after your class grades appear in CUNYFirst to change any or all of them into a Credit/No Credit grade (you do this in CUNYFirst).  Grades in the A – D range can be converted to a “credit” (CR) grade, showing that you took and passed the course.  A CR grade will not affect your GPA.  An F grade can be converted into a “no credit” (NC) grade, which is basically the same as not having taken the class and will also not affect your GPA.  Make sure to talk to (i.e., email) financial aid, your academic advisor, and your major department before doing this because it’s possible it could affect your financial aid and graduation/transfer status.  Unfortunately I can’t help you with this as I don’t have access to that info.

CLICK HERE for the official CUNY statement about all of this.  It’s long and kind of confusing, which is why I summarized it above.

Stay Safe and Healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Caitlin R. Kiernan Resources

Hello All,

Below are some resources on Caitlin R. Kiernan if you choose to write about Kiernan for your final paper.

Click the image of Kiernan below for their personal blog:

Click the image below for their official website (which, as we saw last class, hasn’t been updated in quite a while):

Click the image below for the link to Kiernan’s Amazon page (remember that I highly recommend The Drowning Girl for summer reading!). I’m afraid that the bio misgenders Kiernan, but do recall that Kiernan only announced their pronouns very recently, so I hope Amazon just hasn’t had time to make the changes yet (if Amazon doesn’t before too long, I plan to contact and correct them):

I noted that I’ve written about Kiernan and promised to share some of my writing with you.  It’s all copyrighted to me so please don’t plagiarize it!  😉

CLICK HERE for my Ph.D. dissertation chapter on Caitlin Kiernan.  I discuss both “Tears Seven Times Salt” and “Faces in Revolving Souls.”  Please note that some of the information in this chapter is outdated now, as it was written about five years ago.

CLICK HERE for my so-far unpublished article on Virginia Woolf and Caitlin Kiernan.  Be aware this is very science-heavy so it may be tough reading.  However, its format is a good example of how to incorporate research, quotation, and citation (including the Works Cited page) into a formal paper.

Hope this is helpful,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Tonight’s Virtual Zoom Meeting 5/6 at 6:00

Hello All,

We have a virtual class meeting tonight, Weds. 5/6, from 6:00 – 7:15.

CLICK HERE to join the class meeting.

I apologize for the lateness of this notification.  I thought I had done this last night, but apparently hadn’t.  D’oh!

“See” you all very soon,

Prof. Jaime Weida

A Note About Lateness and Grading

Hello All,

I just want to make this very clear, because I think a few of you may be a little confuzzed (not that I blame you – things have been chaotic this semester!).

The LAST DAY to email me any work for our class is FRIDAY, MAY 22, BY 11:59 PM.  The reason why that is a firm deadline is because my grades are due immediately afterwards.

THE LATENESS POLICY ON ANY ASSIGNMENT IS SUSPENDED FOR OUR ENTIRE CLASS.  As long as you get me whatever assignments you owe me by the deadline, you are good.  I AM NOT TAKING OFF GRADE POINTS/LEVELS FOR LATENESS THIS SEMESTER.  YOUR GRADE WILL NOT GO DOWN AS LONG AS YOU GET YOUR WORK IN BY FRIDAY 5/22. 

Given the current circumstances, I applaud all of you for continuing to virtually attend and keep working on our class content!  🙂

IF YOU CANNOT GET YOUR ASSIGNMENTS DONE BY FRIDAY 5/22, JUST LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GIVE YOU AN INCOMPLETE IF YOU WANT.  The deadline to finish Incompletes from this semester has been extended, but I am more than willing to stay in touch online (BMCC won’t physically open again until the fall, if then) to work on finishing your coursework and I will submit your letter grade ASAP.

Again, I know things are very tough right now for all of us and I just want to make sure that all of you complete the semester successfully.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Virtual Class Meeting Tonight, Mon. 5/4, at 6:00

Hello All,

We have a virtual zoom class meeting tonight, Monday 5/4, at 6:00.

CLICK HERE to join the class meeting.

Remember that for today we’ll be discussing the following:

•  “His Mouth Will Taste of Wormwood” by Billy Martin (Poppy Z. Brite) (CLICK HERE TO READ)
• “Enough Rope by Billy Martin (Poppy Z. Brite) (CLICK HERE TO READ)
• “The Hound” by H. P. Lovecraft (CLICK HERE TO READ)

“See” you all very soon,

Prof. Jaime Weida