Tuesday week 7 Tuesday mercy

Introduction

• Week 7 class update: Submission of paragraphs was discussed.

• Small treat (a bag of sweethearts) mentioned but humorously discouraged from eating them.

• Class focus on Toni Morrison and a different activity planned at the end.

Class Activity

• Instructor shared a self-written paragraph to be graded by students.

• Groups of 2-3 will work together to evaluate the paragraph.

• Emphasis on constructive criticism while grading: students can fail the instructor if they feel it deserves it.

Discussion on Law

• The concept of the law as a decisive social technology.

• Law is everywhere and influences every interaction and institution.

  • Example: Building codes for construction.

  • Law shapes social relations but does not encompass all forms of existence (anomic beings).

• Analysis of the specific law in context: white European Christian masculinist heteronormative law.

Biblical Context

• Introduction to biblical passages regarding the creation of Eve.

• Genesis introduces the concept of "man," translated variably in different contexts (e.g., hominem by Saint Jerome).

• Biblical translations matter significantly for understanding these constructs.

• In the Christian context, the Old Testament is seen as fulfilled by the New Testament, posing a materiality versus spirit argument.

Modern Legal Subjects

• Legal subjects versus those who are not

  • The law creates legal subjects; some beings cannot become legal subjects (e.g., enslaved, colonized indigenous peoples).

• Historical frames discussed through the 1705 Virginia Slave Code as an entry point.

  • This law was pivotal in constructing racial categories (e.g., "Negro").

• Understanding the law as an institution that intersects with capitalism and colonialism.

Intersection of Law, Property, Race, and Society

• Law also produces distinctions between beings based on legal status (e.g., property rights, ability to own land).

• Slavery and settler colonization are interlinked with legal frameworks sustaining these categories.

• Capitalism's rise tied to the establishment of modern legality.

• Robin Blackburn’s book recommended for further reading on the history of slavery.

Key Themes and Edits on Paragraph Assignment

• The paragraph addresses themes of legality and illegality, examining the context in which a widow is considered illegal.

• Suggestions for improvement include:

  • Clarity and transitions between sentences.

  • Avoiding redundancy in language and structure.

  • Enhancing detail about legal concepts and their implications.

  • Expansion on the influence of Christian texts in shaping law.

Conclusion

• Importance of understanding how law, property, race, and society interact within Morrison's narrative.

• Encouragement for students to think critically about their writing and peer evaluations.

• Invite for students to share their thoughts on the paragraph and suggest grades.