AJ16171 Gay Studies

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Michael Matthew Kaylor, PhD. (lecturer)
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Timetable
Thu 10:50–12:25 G32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ09999 Qualifying Examination || 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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
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. 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
  • Paul Monette (1945-1995), Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992)
  • 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.
  • Edmund White (1940-), A Boy’s Own Story (London: Pan Books, 1983)
  • Francis King (1923-), An Air That Kills (Kansas City, MO: Valancourt Books, 2008 [1948])
  • 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)
  • 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.
  • Richard Canning (editor), Vital Signs: Essential AIDS Fiction (New York: Caroll & Graf Publishers, 2007)
  • Randy Shilts (1951-1994), And The Band Played On. Politics, People and The AIDS Empidemic (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990)
  • Alan Hollinghurst (1954-), The Folding Star (London: Vintage, 1995)
  • Mary Renault (1905-1983), The Charioteer (New York: Pocket Books, 1967)
  • David M. Halperin (1952-), One Hundred Years of Homosexuality and Other Essays on Greek Love (New York: Routledge, 1990)
  • 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)
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 Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
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