An End to Theory

So my second to last semester of college is now over, and the true end is almost near (eek). But this semester has been far different from the previous ones. I truly enjoyed all of my classes especially this class even though most of the time, especially in the beginning, I spent asking myself "What am I learning? I don't understand what I'm studying...none of this makes any sense." I remember the first day of class I was completely dumbfounded. Theory at the time to me seemed like German and I was left to translate it all on my own. Once I understood Marxism and structuralism I was able to understand and relate the following theories that we also studied.
This class has taught me to think critically differently, and I have caught myself analyzing texts and films using the variety of theories that I studied. The theory that I have found myself relating most with is feminism.
However I feel that when I try to verbalize and express my understanding of theory it never comes out correctly because one idea conflicts with and spark another idea and my thoughts become all over the place, and I feel that I'm going insane.
Now that we have spent a great amount of time learning all of these theories, its shocking and slightly annoying that we come to find out that theory is dead. To understand, value, or reject theory you have to know where it has been and what it has been through.
Theory may explain everything, something, or absolutely nothing. Sometimes things are just what they are.

A response to Feminism

I have to say that before this semester my definition of a feminist was your typical man hating, short haired, masculine, angry woman. And I would have never considered myself a feminist. I grew up in a family with extremely independent, intelligent, determined women who I would never have really seen as feminists, because they didnt fit the stereotypical physical criteria. I've learned that I was completely blindsided, by media and stereotyping, at what a feminism really is.
Through personal experiences which have made me stronger, enrolling in this class, and also by the influences of professors I do understand feminism and feminist theory. The basis of feminism and feminist theory is viewing sex/gender and race as equals and as Barry states raising the "question of whether men and women are 'essentially' different". Personally men and women no matter what race they may be, we are all equal and should be viewed as such.
Krouse brought up the television show 'Sex in the City' in her post and how these women are to be viewed as independent sassy women but however they are obsessed with shoe's. I find that to be the downfall of the shoe and how these women are potreyed (I'm not very familiar with the show but I know the jist of the plot). But is the writer a man or woman? Does he/she mean to make these women strong but still remain to find them typically fashion, designer label, shoe obsessed women? I find myself reading and viewing movies/televsion from a feminist perspective asking "now why does she have to somehow fit into that typical feminine/girly mold". And thats what the struggle we, women, are faced with which is to show this 'male dominated' society that we are cabable of doing exactly what they do through both media and text.