Invitation to the February 2014 Gender Research @ UP Reading

You are cordially invited to the February 2014 GR@UP Reading of

Prefaces to both editions of Gender Trouble by Judith Butler (1990, revised edition 1999), together with the first chapter for those who want to go deeper into the text.

With Special Guest

Tertius Kapp

As a special guest we will welcome the poet and playwright Tertius Kapp who will talk about his drama Rooiland, and the field research he has done for this piece in the Cape Town prisons. Among others, his attention was drawn to the (sexual) relationships between male prisoners. While one in the couple assumes the female role, and therefore claiming they are not homosexual or involved in same sex sexual acts, these prison communities are an excellent example of what Butler calls gender performative acts. Kapp’s drama is set the confined space of Cape Town prison and tells the stories of personal battles which prison gangs and its members encounter on a day-to-day basis. In a raw language it presents a narrative of the mythology surrounding prison gangs and the everyday struggle for power, respect, and life.  Watch the trailer on : http://vimeo.com/67957386

After a short summary and discussion of Butler’s take on gender and performativity and its practical application on our Southern reality, specifically on contemporary South African situation Tertius will present his work and will join the discussion about gender performativity within the male prison community.

Date:             Thursday, 13 February 2014

Time:            15h00 – 17h00

Place:            Training Room 1, 3^rd Level, Merenskey Library, Hatfield Campus, UP

For electronic copies of the reading please contact Polo Moji - polo.moji@up.ac.za, or Martina Vitackova - m.vitackova@gmail.com