Carly Thomsen

Intro to Queer Critique is a beast of a class. It expects a lot of students, with 2-3 difficult articles for each class, expecting deep engagement with each. Class discussions were frequently enlightening, and the materials were engaging. However, as might be surprising for a class on Queer Critique, while many critiques are read for the class, the course demands *un*critical acceptance of those critiques. As a result, this was perhaps the least critical course I have taken at Middlebury College. While the material was radically illuminating, do not expect to find room for objection to that material; the expectation is that you incorporate, understand, and represent the texts, not that you critically assess them. Additionally, Carly Thomsen is, without doubt, an academic superstar, but she expects similar engagement from her students, and is notoriously unaccommodating to students with accessibility needs despite her engagement with theories from disability studies. Was my life changed by this class? Absolutely. Just know what you're in for before you take the plunge.

Intro to Queer Critique is a beast of a class. It expects a lot of students, with 2-3 difficult articles for each class, expecting deep engagement with each. Class discussions were frequently enlightening, and the materials were engaging. However, as might be surprising for a class on Queer Critique, while many critiques are read for …Read more

There are 5 readings for every class, 3 quizzes, 1 presentation for each student, 1 group project which includes 1 proposal, 1 project work, 1 presentation, 1 paper, and a symposium to attend. Dr. Thomsen is a great instructor but she is not very accomodating on students' needs.

There was an excessive amount of readings, deadlines and expectations would change at the last minute, the professor was not accommodating, and we had to complete unpaid labor for the symposium (that was outside of class time).