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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the hysterical woman, the masturbating child, the Malthusian couple, and the perverse adult?

2. What does Foucault say we need to do in order to understand the relationship between sexuality and power?

3. What new technology of sex emerged at the end of the eighteenth century?

4. According to Foucault, which of the following is NOT one of the ways we view sex?

5. What does Foucault say about our perception that the mechanisms of power are one-sided and act on us from above?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what form did sexuality first arise, and what was its intended purpose?

2. Is there disinterested knowledge? Explain.

3. What role does discourse play in power?

4. Define how Foucault sees sexuality.

5. Give an example of a tactical and strategic relationship.

6. What role does psychiatry play in the deployment of sexuality and the repressive hypothesis?

7. How does Foucault claim monarchs of the middle ages persuaded the existing power centers to accept and participate in their power?

8. Explain what is meant by the statement that sexuality changed from a matter of death and sin to a matter of life and illness.

9. How does Foucault define power? What is it like?

10. What does Foucault have to say about resistance? Where can you find it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Foucault asserts that the format of scientia sexualis is based on the model of the Christian confessional.

Part 1: How did the format of confession change that opened the doors to broader sexual discourse?

Part 2: What was unique about the power structure and format of the confessional that opened the way to scientia sexualis?

Part 3: What elements of the confessional still exist in practice today in scientia sexualis? What has changed?

Essay Topic 2

Foucault discusses the circular terms of power. Write an essay describing what he means by power being circular in the following two circumstances.

Part 1: Describe the circular nature of the legal power structure.

Part 2: Discuss how, like the legal structure, power and sexuality are inextricably intertwined.

Essay Topic 3

Explain what Foucault means by political power shifting from power of death to power over life.

Part 1: What is a society like whose political power structure is based on the power of death? What does power of death mean?

Part 2: What is a society like whose political power structure is focused on power over life? What does power over life mean?

Part 3: What other significant changes to society happened during this shift?

(see the answer keys)

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