Summer @ Brown - Best Frenemies?: Cultural Narratives of Female Friendship in Literature and Film

“Abandon the cultural myth that all female friendships must be bitchy, toxic, or competitive. This myth is like heels and purses—pretty but designed to SLOW women down.” This provocative line from Roxane Gay’s “13 Rules for Female Friendship” begs the question: Why do women make the best of friends, but the worst of enemies? In this course, we will look at how female friendship is represented in film, fiction, and television to challenge the cultural myth that women cannot be friends, instead positing friendship between women as a source of solidarity. Secondary texts in cultural, feminist, race, narrative, and queer theory will introduce students to possible lenses for considering these dynamics. Application process includes: online application, essay, transcript, application fee. Accepted Pre-College students may apply for Dean’s Scholarships, awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and academic merit. Need is determined by considering several factors, including family income, family size, number of siblings in college, and housing expenses.