ENGL A179: Gender and Sexuality in Literature and Film
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 12/06/2023 |
| Top Code | 150300 - Comparative Literature |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
Read, analyze, and write on literature and films of different genres, periods, and cultures that focus on culturally constructed images of males and females. Examine the philosophical, cultural, mythic, religious, and/or historical elements related to these films and texts. Enrollment Limitation: ENGL A179H; students who complete ENGL A179 may not enroll in or receive credit for ENGL A179H. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Identify significant cultural influences, such as history, philosophy, and aesthetics, on gender sexuality, an sexual identities and their represetatives.
Course Objectives
- 1. Demonstrate familiarity with important concepts, discourses, and theoretical approaches related to sexuality, gender, and identity.
- 2. Analyze and interpret culturally significant literary texts and films representing pertinent and relevant themes of sexuality, gender, and sexual identity found in literature and film.
- 3. Relate textual and visual representations of sexuality, gender, and sexual identity to their historical, philosophical, social, political, and/or aesthetic contexts.
- 4. Actively and critically read a variety of texts containing culturally significant representations of sexuality, gender, and sexual identity.
- 5. Compose formal written analyses of texts that demonstrate appropriate academic discourse and the conventions of critical literary analysis relevant to the study of sexuality, gender, and sexual identity.
- 6. Appreciate how a work of literature and film can address, expand, and argue political and social issues such as gender, sexuality and sexual identity.
- 7. Recognize the influence of Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Gay, and Transgender writers on literature of varying genres.
- 8. Recognize the influence of race and class upon sexual identities and their representations.
- 9. Recognize and compare common themes of gender, sexuality, and sexual identity between different literary genres and texts.
Lecture Content
Course Content I Influential and significant texts and authors relevant to discussions about sexuality and gender. These texts may include representatives from theory, psychology, philosophy, history, literature and film. (classical to contemporary—genre authors themes). A Literary and Cinematic texts: a) Classical Period: Platos Symposium, Euripides The Bacchae, Aristophanes The Lysistrata, Ovids Metamorphosis b) Medieval: The Lais of Marie De France, the autobiography of Margery Kemp, Julian of Norwich, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Romances of Chretien de Troyes, Makura no Soshis The Pillow Book c) Early Modern through Enlightenment: Shakespeares Twelfth Night, Aphra Behns The Rover, Horace Walpoles “Castle of Otranto,” Jonathan Swifts “A Ladys Dressing Room,” Voltaires Candide, the Marquis de Sade Philosophy in the Bedroom d) 19th Century: Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, Oscar Wildes De Profundis, Melvilles Moby Dick, Flauberts Madame Bovary e) 20th Century Literary texts: Baldwins Giovannis Room, Woolfs Orlando, Rechys City of Night, Hall The Well of Loneliness, Alice Walkers The Color Purple, George Bataille The Story of the Eye, Kathy Acker Great Expectations, Alison Bechdels Fun Home. f) Cinematic works: G. W. Griffiths Birth of a Nation, Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho, Michael Gordons Pillow Talk, Bertoluccis Last Tango in Paris, The Christine Jorgensen Story, Bergmans Persona, Hal Ashbys Harold and Maude, Peter Greenaways A Zed and Two Noughts. B Theoretical Approaches to the study of Sexuality and Gender: a) Sigmund Freuds Dora and Three Essays on Sexuality. Jacques Lacan “The Meaning of the Phallus” and Feminine Sexuality. b) Michel Foucault The History of Sexuality and Herculean Barbin c) Feminine Ecriture represented by Luce Irigaray, The Sex Which is Not One, and Julia Kristeva The Power of Horror d) Gayle Rubins “The Traffic in Women” e) Donna Harroway “A Cyborg Manifesto” f) Judith Butler Gender Trouble and Bodies that Matter. 3. Non-Fiction Historical texts: a) Biblical and Religious texts: Thomas Aquinas “Summa Theologiae,” The Bible, excerpts from Genesis, Song of Solomon, and Pauls Corinthians; excerpts from the Haiddth; excerpts from the Book of Mormon, particularly the letter to Sarah. b) Scientific texts: Darwins Origin of Species, Alfred Kinseys Sexual Behavior in the Human Male,” Michael Pollans The Botany of Desire. c) Psychology: excerpts from Krafft/Ebbing Psychopathia Sexualis, Havelock Ellis Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Wilhelm Reichs The Sexual Revolution, and Masters and Johnsons Human Sexual Response. II Evolution of literary and filmic representations of sexuality and gender traditions, contexts, and genres. A An introduction to past and contemporary representations of sexuality and gender (please see above list) as represented in various aesthetic genres: a) Poetry b) Drama c) Prose d) Novel e) Short story f) Films g) Graphic novels B An introduction to past and contemporary representations of sexuality and gender (please see above list) as represented by various authors and cultures. C An introduction to appropriate academic and literary discourse necessary for analysis of representations of sexuality and gender, as well as analysis of specific literary genres. III Contexts (historical, psychological, political, social, aesthetic, philosophical): A) Please see Contest areas 1 and 2 B Material factors influencing representations of sexuality and gender e.g. religious wars, the industrial revolution, migration, scientific and technological discoveries such as birth control. C The effects of social and political movements upon sexuality e.g. the suffragettes, first through third wave feminism, Stonewall, and Act-ups response to the AIDS crisis. D Aesthetic movements concerned with defining sexuality and gender e.g. Mysticism, Romanticism, Modernism, Post-Modernism. E The role of language and linguistics in shaping sexuality and gender. IV Critical Reading strategies: B Close reading of both written and visual texts C Observation versus inference D Application of theory E Evaluation of representations of sexuality and gender within their historical context F Comparison and contrast of representations of sexuality and gender G Cause and effect H b Inter-textual references and putting texts in dialogue V Writing Strategies demonstrated through take home essays, response papers, in-class exams, group projects: B Analytical interpretation C Argumentation D Summary and description E Evaluation and Application F Thesis development G Rudimentary research skills and MLA citation
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Instructional techniques involve some or all of the following: lecture/discussion, in-class writing prompts, close reading, group work, panel discussions, debates, response papers, quizzes, collaborative research presentations, and demonstrations.
Reading Assignments
Students will spend a minimum of 2-4 hours per week reading novel, poems, prose, short stories, memoirs, criticism, theory, reviews, and scripts.
Writing Assignments
Student will spend a minimum of between 4-6 hours per week Writing assignments can be, but are not limited to, response papers, analytical arguments, researched discussions, in-class essays, and/or close analyses. Write a minimum of 3000 words on texts thematically related to sexuality, gender, and sexual identity: (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must be in the form of analytical essays, (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literature.
Out-of-class Assignments
Students will between a minimum of 2-4 hours per week reading of assigned texts, viewing of assigned films and television shows, and researching related materials whether on-line or in the library. Writing essays, reading responses, and other assigned assignments which may include group presentations and study questions.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
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Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Writing assignments can be, but are not limited to, response papers, analytical arguments, researched discussions, in-class essays, and/or close analyses. Write a minimum of 3000 words on texts thematically related to sexuality, gender, and sexual identity: (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must be in the form of analytical essays, (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literature.
Eligible Disciplines
English: Masters degree in English, literature, comparative literature, or composition OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in linguistics, TESL, speech, education with a specialization in reading, creative writing, or journalism OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required McCann, H.. Queer Theory Now: From Foundations to Futures, ed. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019 2. Required Srinivasan, A.. The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century, ed. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021 3. Required Somerville, S.. The Cambridge Companion to Queer Studies, ed. Cambridge University Press, 2020 4. Required Gillis, M.J., Jacobs, A.T.. Introduction to Womens and Gender Studies, ed. Oxford University Press, 2019
Other Resources
1. Films: 1. Soldiers Girl Director Frank Pierson, Showtime Entertainment. January 2014 2. Under the Skin Director Jonathan Glazer. A24, 2014 3. Only Lovers Left Alive Directot Jim Jarmusch Sony Pictures, 2014. 4. Paradise:Love Director Ulrich Seidl