Tyra & Alice Discussion Leading: Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) identified herself as a "black lesbian feminist warrior" and many of her views and ideals were present throughout the works we read this week, "Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power" and the poem "Restoration: A  Memorial -- 9/18/91". After you as the reader read, "Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power" these are a few questions we came up with:

1) On pages 538 and 540, Based on these quotes what is the "Erotic" as defined or described by Lorde?

2) Is the claim that woman use their bodies as a tool to gain power in anyway truthful?

3) Based on the quote on page 537, "Of course, women so empowered are dangerous. So we are taught to separate the erotic demand from the vital areas of our lives other than sex." Many feminist are considered intimating and feminism is often considered negative, does this quote pertain to feminist as well? Has the erotic been separated from feminism?

4) Has the erotic been separated from the life of a woman writer? Is that why most woman don't have both family and career?

5) Has eroticism only become important sexually, with male influence?

"Restoration: A Memorial -- 9/18/91":

1) Lorde suffered from breast cancer which also claimed her life, why do you believe the poem was named, "Restoration: A Memorial?" What does that signify?

2) Based on the quote on page 543, "In this alien and temporary haven/my poisoned fingers/slowly return to normal...", What does this quote say about how Lorde felt in her body dealing with cancer and chemo?

3) Lorde makes a reference in stanzas 2, 3 and 4 about a home being destroyed by water or is this a metaphor for her body?

4) When Lorde says, "Death like burnt star/perched on the rim of my teacup..." do you believe she was okay with death?

5) What are some overall lessons you have learned so far from reading the work of strong women writers? What ideas are prevalent throughout all the pieces we have read so far? Ex. Career vs. Family.