ENG41860 Queer Frictions: Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Literature & Culture

Academic Year 2021/2022

In this module we will examine the representation of LGBTQ lives, communities and conflicts in contemporary literature, performance, and film, as well as an exploration of queer and trans aesthetic and representational modes. Focusing on key 20th century and contemporary cultural production and cultural politics, we will explore queer, feminist and trans theories and histories as well as fiction, performance, film, auto theory, memoir, autoethnography, media texts, documentary, and other textual and visual forms. We will focus on ‘flashpoints’ in 20th-century and contemporary queer and trans politics and aesthetics, situating these in historical and global contexts. Key topics will include the politics and geographies of sex and sexual subcultures; technology, space, gender and the body; queer neoliberalism, normativities and homonationalism; the class/race/gender politics and aesthetics of queer and trans representation; queer ecology and world literature.

This module will draw on expertise from across the School of English, Drama and Film, and is suitable for students from a range of the School’s MA programmes. Module lecturers for 2020-21 are Dr Anne Mulhall (module coordinator), Dr Treasa DeLoughrey, Dr Kate Fama, Dr Paul Halferty, and Dr Cormac O'Brien.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

- Advanced knowledge of key concepts and critical approaches in queer, trans, critical sexuality and gender studies
- Ability to analyse literary, film, performance and other ‘cultural’ texts in terms of their formal, aesthetic aspects as well as in relation to political, historical, legal and media texts and contexts
- Ability to understand, analyse and critically evaluate cultural production and cultural theory in relation to gender and sexuality as well as in relation to other intersecting power structures, such as race, ethnicity, class and migration.
- Ability to understand and challenge current understandings of gender and sexuality by interrogating cultural identities
- Ability to synthesize a range of materials and perspectives in the production of a coherent, well-researched argument
- Ability to produce a cogent, high level piece of academic research/writing


Indicative Module Content:

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Specified Learning Activities

76
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is seminar-based, with a strong emphasis on group discussion and class participation. Approaches in this module may include:

Student-led discussion
Overviews, contexts, approaches etc outlined by lecturer
Discussion forums
Critical writing
Close reading
Group work and peer review 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: 1. Discussion posts (15%)
2. Essay proposal (15%)		 Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

30
Essay: 4000 word essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given in class to discussion posts. Feedback will also be given individually on essay proposals prior to completing the final essay, and post-assessment for the final essay. Feedback may include peer review and self-assessment exercises.

Name Role
Dr Hannah Boast Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ailise Bulfin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Treasa De Loughry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Sharae Deckard Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Katherine Fama Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Paul Halferty Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Anne Mulhall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Cormac O'Brien Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Caleb O'Connor Lecturer / Co-Lecturer