Resisting Ilsa
This paper examines ways in which Nazism has been sexualized in contemporary Western media, drawing on Foucault’s theory of biopower to explain this bizarre phenomena. I argue Nazism has been eroticized through its use as a floating signifier for “evil” or “abnormal,” the oppositional half of the he...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Western Ontario
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Feminist Philosophy Quarterly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/3482 |
| _version_ | 1818368995705749504 |
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| author | Samantha N Wesch |
| author_facet | Samantha N Wesch |
| author_sort | Samantha N Wesch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper examines ways in which Nazism has been sexualized in contemporary Western media, drawing on Foucault’s theory of biopower to explain this bizarre phenomena. I argue Nazism has been eroticized through its use as a floating signifier for “evil” or “abnormal,” the oppositional half of the hegemonic binary narrative. Looking to Foucault’s later work on resistance and perfectionist ethics, I ultimately argue these representations negatively detract from and silence survivor and witness testimony, problematically distorting popular knowledge and understanding of the Shoah to fit hegemonic binary narratives, rather than to pay respect to or preserve the stories and suffering of the victims. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:16:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8370180aeeb849d48111635718b8facc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-2570 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:16:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Western Ontario |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Feminist Philosophy Quarterly |
| spelling | doaj.art-8370180aeeb849d48111635718b8facc2022-12-21T23:27:54ZengUniversity of Western OntarioFeminist Philosophy Quarterly2371-25702018-06-014210.5206/fpq/2018.2.3482Resisting IlsaSamantha N Wesch0University of AlbertaThis paper examines ways in which Nazism has been sexualized in contemporary Western media, drawing on Foucault’s theory of biopower to explain this bizarre phenomena. I argue Nazism has been eroticized through its use as a floating signifier for “evil” or “abnormal,” the oppositional half of the hegemonic binary narrative. Looking to Foucault’s later work on resistance and perfectionist ethics, I ultimately argue these representations negatively detract from and silence survivor and witness testimony, problematically distorting popular knowledge and understanding of the Shoah to fit hegemonic binary narratives, rather than to pay respect to or preserve the stories and suffering of the victims.https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/3482FoucaultResistanceBiopowerBiopoliticsSexualityThird Reich |
| spellingShingle | Samantha N Wesch Resisting Ilsa Feminist Philosophy Quarterly Foucault Resistance Biopower Biopolitics Sexuality Third Reich |
| title | Resisting Ilsa |
| title_full | Resisting Ilsa |
| title_fullStr | Resisting Ilsa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resisting Ilsa |
| title_short | Resisting Ilsa |
| title_sort | resisting ilsa |
| topic | Foucault Resistance Biopower Biopolitics Sexuality Third Reich |
| url | https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fpq/article/view/3482 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samanthanwesch resistingilsa |