Face Up and Sing': Nonconformity, Bisexual Consciousness and Transversity in the Work of Ani DiFranco

Abstract

The thesis focuses on how and where Ani DiFranco can be situated in the context of American nonconformity, how third wave feminism and ideas around sexuality has shaped her subjective conceptual frame, and how her work can be read as constituted by and constitutive of the element of transversity. The outline of the continuum in Chapter 1 places DiFranco in a particular branch of the American nonconformity and serves to illustrate how there are particular aspects to nonconformity that hold particular importance as a part of a society. Chapter 2 focuses on third wave feminist thinking, theoretical and methodical strategies as well as discussions around hegemonic heterosexual and monosexual reign and bisexual consciousness' as constructive tools to battle limiting and oppressive metanarratives in society. The final chapter presents the idea of transversity as a means for creating a space of dialogue between differently situated individuals and links the concept to the idea of an extended democracy.