"Legislating Desire: Homosexuality, Intellectual Property Rights and Consumer Fraud in Post-Socialist China" with Lisa Rofel, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Cruz

It is clear that in the era of "globalization" the intensification in the production of desire is central to the success of capitalism. With the end of socialism in China, property, privatization, and consumption are what seem to drive social life and construct "globalization." Desire seemingly knows no bounds. Yet, desire is also normalized. Thus, adjudication of distinct desires is essential for proper governmentality. Comparison of legal cases addressing gay desire, intellectual property rights and consumer fraud highlights the valuation of different desires and, conversely, the way in which value is at the heart of normalizing desire.