AJL16171 Queer Studies

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Michael Matthew Kaylor, PhD.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJL16171/01: Thu 12:00–13:40 G33, except Thu 16. 11., J. Vanderziel
AJL16171/02: Thu 16:00–17:40 D21, except Thu 16. 11., J. Vanderziel
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJL01002 Practical English II || AJ01002 Practical English II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 37/40, only registered: 2/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the development, history and current state of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer culture in the English-speaking world, in particular in the United States and United Kingdom. The main body of the course is divided into five modules, with each two-week module focusing on a specific historical period/topic. During the first week of the module, socio-historical and cultural aspects of the issue at hand will be addressed. During the second week of the module, a work of literature (novel, short story) that deals with the module's theme will be examined.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to discuss the writing of others with sensitivity and appreciation; have an understanding of Gay Studies and Queer Theory, particularly in an Anglo-American context; and be familiar with the key events, themes, and figures involved in those contexts from roughly 1850 to the present.
Syllabus
  • Week 1: Introduction, Part I. Week 2: Introduction, Part II: Read David M. Halperin (1952-), One Hundred Years of Homosexuality and Other Essays on Greek Love ( New York: Routledge, 1990), Chapters 1 & 2, pp. 15-53, and Rictor Norton (1945-), The Myth of the Modern Homosexual. Queer History and the Search for Cultural Unity (London: Cassell, 1997), Chapter 3, pp. 61-97; Watch the film Wilde (1997), directed by Brian Gilbert. Week 3: Module I: Before the 1950s: Read Allan Berubé (1946-2007). Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War Two (New York: The Free Press, 1990), Chapters 2 and 4 (pp. 34-66 and 98-127); Watch the film Maurice (1987), directed by James Ivory. Week 4: Module I: Before the 1950s: Read Francis King (1923-), An Air That Kills (Kansas City, MO: Valancourt Books, 2008 [1948]), 198 pages; Watch the film Lilies (1996), directed by John Greyson. Week 5: Module II: Before Stonewall: Read Paul Monette (1945-1995), Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992), Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-100. Watch the film Kinsey (2004), directed by Bill Condon. Week 6: Module II: Before Stonewall: Read Mary Renault (1905-1983), The Charioteer (New York: Pocket Books, 1967), 346 pages; Watch the film Gay Sex in the 70s (2005), directed by Joseph Lovett. Week 7: Module III: Gay Liberation: Read David Eisenbach, Gay Power: An American Revolution. (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2006), Chapters 4 and 5 (pp. 81-142); Watch the film The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), directed by Rob Epstein. Week 8: Module III: Gay Liberation: Read Edmund White (1940-), A Boy's Own Story (London: Pan Books, 1983), 217 pages; Watch the film Angels in America (2003), directed by Mike Nichols. Week 9: Module IV: AIDS: Read Randy Shilts (1951-1994), And The Band Played On. Politics, People and The AIDS Empidemic (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990), Part VI, pp. 339-402. Watch the film Breakfast on Pluto (2005), directed by Neil Jordan. Week 10: Module IV: AIDS: Read: Richard Canning (editor), Vital Signs: Essential AIDS Fiction (entire text); Watch the film Shortbus (2006), directed by John Cameron Mitchell. Week 11: Module V: All Things Queer: Read Judith Butler, “Imitation and Gender Subordination”. In Diana Fuss, Inside/Out: Lesbian Theories, Gay Theories (New York: Routledge, 1991), pp. 13-31; Wendy Peters, “Queer identities: Rupturing identity categories and negotiating meanings of queer”. In Canadian Woman Studies / les cahiers de la femme, 24 (2/3): 102-107; Sharon Marcus, “Queer Theory for Everyone: A Review Essay”. In Signs, Autumn 2005, 31(1): 191-218. Week 12: Module V: All Things Queer: Read Alan Hollinghurst (1954-), The Folding Star (London: Vintage, 1995), 422 pages.
Literature
    required literature
  • Francis King (1923-), An Air That Kills (Kansas City, MO: Valancourt Books, 2008 [1948])
  • David M. Halperin (1952-), One Hundred Years of Homosexuality and Other Essays on Greek Love (New York: Routledge, 1990)
  • Edmund White (1940-), A Boy’s Own Story (London: Pan Books, 1983)
  • Paul Monette (1945-1995), Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992)
  • Allan Berubé (1946-2007), Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War Two (New York: The Free Press, 1990)
  • Sharon Marcus, “Queer Theory for Everyone: A Review Essay”. In Signs, Autumn 2005, 31(1): 191-218.
  • Judith Butler, “Imitation and Gender Subordination”. In Diana Fuss, Inside/Out: Lesbian Theories, Gay Theories (New York: Routledge, 1991), pp. 13-31.
  • Rictor Norton (1945-), The Myth of the Modern Homosexual. Queer History and the Search for Cultural Unity (London: Cassell, 1997)
  • David Eisenbach, Gay Power: An American Revolution . (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2006)
    recommended literature
  • Alan Hollinghurst (1954-), The Folding Star (London: Vintage, 1995)
  • Randy Shilts (1951-1994), And The Band Played On. Politics, People and The AIDS Empidemic (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990)
  • Wendy Peters, “Queer identities: Rupturing identity categories and negotiating meanings of queer”. In Canadian Woman Studies / les cahiers de la femme, 24 (2/3): 102-107.
    not specified
  • Richard Canning (editor), Vital Signs: Essential AIDS Fiction (New York: Caroll & Graf Publishers, 2007)
  • Mary Renault (1905-1983), The Charioteer (New York: Pocket Books, 1967)
Teaching methods
One 2-hour seminar per week.
Assessment methods
Assessment will be based on the following items: Assessment will be based on the following items: (1) An in-class credit test given during the exam period. This exam will cover all the readings as well as material presented in the seminar. The test will account for 80% of the final mark. [The prerequisite for taking the exam is handing in 3 film reviews--see the note in red below.] (2) Seminar participation and attendance will account for 20% of the final mark.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
http://www.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=2178
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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