notes from 2/12 and 2/19

2/12, Discussion of the Beecher-Tilton trial, where well-known 19th century Congregationalist preacher Henry Ward Beecher (related to Harriet Beecher Stowe of Uncle Tom's Cabin fame) of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, NY was accused of adultery with the wife of a member of his congregation. Prof. Banner detailed the background leading up to the trial, which included the involvement of women's rights activist, Spiritualist and "free love" advocate Victoria Woodhull. Woodhull, who was the first woman to run for the presidency, revealed the Beecher-Tilton affair, and apparently was involved with Theodore Tilton. There was also a passionate friendship, and a series of letters to that effect, between Beecher and Theodore Tilton. Women's rights leaders Elizabeth Cady  Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were also involved. Professor Banner discussed the theology of Beecher's church, which preached love and New Testament ideals over the harsher, Old Testament theology of Beecher's Calvinist father. She also described Woodhull's doctrine of "free love," which advocated the rights of women to love whoever they wanted and to leave loveless marriages. Woodull published accusations against Beecher (who preached against "free love") that began the scandal.



2/19, Students watched The Bostonians, a film based on the Henry James novel.

1/22/13 and 2/5/13 class notes

1/22/13

Dr. Banner finished her discussion and comments about the American founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemmings story, John Adams/Abigail Adams story, and Ben Franklin (who, apparently, was a player). Her focus was on beliefs about men and women not mixing in public spheres because of concerns about sex and because it was believed that thinking, politics, and being in the public sphere would taint women’s morals. Different and more liberal ideas about sex in France. Banner’s point was that beliefs about women and men change over time.

Abigail Adams letter to John Adams: Women are going to rebel if they don’t have representation and say in creating the laws they have to follow. John Adam’s answer: women have indirect power in relationships, sex, family.

Development of the middle class as a new class, in classic definitions the business class. Professions were in the 19^th c. defined as middle class. White collar/blue collar, middle class/working class distinctions discussed, as was disappearance of the middle class. What defines class? Is it just money? For example, a plumber may have income enough to be considered middle class, but the profession is working class; the idea is that class isn’t defined by income alone, but by other factors such as education, type of work, etc.

Victorian roles for women discussed. The squeamishness about sex to the extent where language was changed (leg became limbs, etc.) and even piano legs were covered. Women weren’t told anything about sex, so rape often happened on one’s wedding night. The influence of the Ten Commandments and religion. Women needed to be covered and figleaves were drawn on paintings to cover sex organs. Women couldn’t appear in public while pregnant. Respectable women not only shouldn’t have orgasms, but were considered not able to have an orgasm.

At the same time as the behavior of women: pure, moral, pious (particularly middle class women) was tightly controlled, sex flourished (prostitution: 1 in 16 women in major cities were prostitutes).

Next time will show/discuss Dr. Banner’s slide show: “American Beauty,” about Victorian dress and appearance that will show how culture functioned at the level of dress/the aesthetic.

2/5/13

Dr. Banner absent, so TA gave students the day off after a brief accounting of the film paper term paper option. Tonight is a showing of Vito Russo’s The Celluloid Closet, which students who are doing the film paper must watch as a text that will prepare them to write about specific films to come. Celluloid Closet is a documentary about queer representation in film. Film paper people stayed to hear a more detailed accounting of the film paper option.