RR #23 Cixous

Summary

            With “VIEWPOINT The Laugh of Medusa” Helene Cixous argues, strongly, that the future of writing should NOT be dominated by the male perspective. Cixous suggests that even though the past holds much weight in regards to our future, it should not be repeated, but instead learned from. Women should write as women, through their own eyes. Restraint should not be employed; honesty is paramount.

Synthesis

            This article is most closely related to work from Flynn and Alexander, primarily because all three deal with the issue of gender and how its affect on writing. It’s likely safe to say that Cixous is the most extreme and unmovable in her viewpoint. There is blatant finger pointing, explicit placing of the blame, etc.

Personal Response

            Though I do not agree with Cixous, I will give her the benefit of the doubt, to an extent. This article was written about thirty-five years ago, meaning that its version of gender equality would be next to unrecognizable in today’s society. I did enjoy Cixous’ passion. It’s impossible to ignore. I would strongly denounce this article if it was written in 2012, but it isn’t. So I cannot say for sure.

QDJ

1. Personally, I was never made to feel uncomfortable while reading this article. Its views were extreme, but I tend to read with as little bias as possible. Its content, to be sure, is cause for outrage. However, I found this to be intentional. A “certain level of discomfort” may have seemed necessary in 1976; something radical may have needed to be done.

2. I think that Cixous is trying to provoke her female audience to write without restraint. To Cixous, honest is the best policy. In the opening paragraphs, Cixous says that the effects of the past do exist, but that she refuses to strengthen them through repetition. To me, this is what she means when she encourages women to write themselves.