03/01/10 - 03/15/10 - Online Workshop - Homosexuality In The Classical Age with Jennifer Throne

The Rainbow Romance Writers, special interest chapter 217 of RWA, is
pleased to announce our March online workshop.

Workshop: Homosexuality In The Classical Age
Instructor: Jennifer Thorne
Dates: March 1st to 15th, 2010

Workshop Description

Homosexuality and Lesbianism in the Classical Age will be explored
with the help of writer Jennifer Thorne, identifying themes of
transgression and desire through the works of Homer, Plato, Sappho and
Aristophanes. Information will be culled from normal, everyday life as
well as the Gods and heroes themselves.

Topics include:

1. a) Defining our terms and frames of reference - who, what, when,
where, and why
b) Define 'Normal' - Home life, society's expectations, stages of life
(with a look at the Odyssey - who'da thunk that Odysseus and Penelope
were the template for 'normal'?).

2. What was 'Greek love', really? (Defining homosexuality/lesbianism
in the classical Greek period).
a) Plato and 'Platonic love' - the golden ideal.
b) Sappho and 'Sapphic love' - what girls did, and why no one cared
(as long as it was with each other).

3. Sex and the Body Politic- what happens when the boundaries are
broken- the law, medicine, and corporal punishment (Be prepared to
push your 'squick factor button' on this one).

4. Beauty (Or, size does matter, but not in the way you think) - with
lots of pictures and poetry, and a 'create your own caption' contest
for the artwork. Much hilarity (and ogling) is promised. But, it's all
in the name of art. Really.

5. Double-Standards - Gods and heroes, Satyrs, Amazons, and Maenads
(The liminal, the bestial, and the war on society - with special
emphasis on amazons and maenads just 'cause they're fun, and it makes
a nice change from getting all depressed about how girls were
treated).

6. Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae - a quick explanation of the plot,
and why it was so funny and outrageous (You have to love Aristophanes
- he was such a curmudgeon).

Instructor's bio:

Jennifer Thorne is a current member of RRW. She has a B.A. in Classics
from Wilfrid Laurier University, and had a lot of fun finding the
interesting bits in history in between the lists of Roman Emperors and
who smucked whom in which battle. But please don't ask her about pots.
She has worked very hard to forget about those.

The cost of the workshop is $10 for RRW members and $15 for
nonmembers. Online registration is available via Paypal from the RRW
web site. If you wish to pay by other means, please contact our class
coordinator to make arrangements. Registration deadline is February
26th.

The class will run from March 1st through the 15th. Lessons and class
discussion will be conducted on the RRW workshop loop. When your
registration is confirmed, you will receive an invitation to join the
loop.

To register please visit the RRW web site at

http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com/2009/11/homosexuality-in-the-classical-
age-2/

Questions may be directed to our class coordinator at

workshop@rainbowromancewriters.com