Visualizing Difference: Performative Audiencing in the Intersectional Classroom

In the wealth of literature on intersectionality as a concept, theory, political option and methodology, little has been written on how it might be taught. Proceeding from theory to practice, Visualizing Difference fills in this lacuna and offers an original approach to a visual pedagogy that recognizes the necessity of integrating difference, whilst also inspiring the reader to convey meanings from visuals that directly bear influence upon their lives.

This innovative volume proposes a novel approach to empirical investigation of the visual. So far, it has not been demonstrated how interconnections between various social differentials, such as gender, disability, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and nationality intersect in a particular lived experience and shape the reception of visual texts. Oleksy thus focuses on documenting how critical analysis of films empowers students and gives them incentive to oppose normalizing power effects.

Through students’ personal narratives, the reader will witness how subjectivity is indicative of the retrospective look at their own lives, which classroom experiences of watching and discussing the films have stimulated. This intriguing book will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers interested in Film Audience, Intersectionality, Sociology, Pedagogy and Gender Studies.

Elżbieta H. Oleksy is a Professor and Founding Director of Women’s Studies Centre, University of Lodz, Poland.