Masculinities - Einzelansicht

This is a theory-oriented seminar that seeks to pluralize the notion of masculinity, which is commonly portrayed as an attribute or uniform practice. We will do so by questioning the relationship between the tropes connected to femininity, masculinity and the biological category of sex.

Prospective participants are expected to have familiarized themselves with current discourses on gender and the attendant politics before the course. Throughout the course, participants will be required to read, actively discuss and respond to a range of academic texts on the socially constructed category of gender. Based on this selection of secondary texts, we will challenge the supposed homogeneity of masculinity through analyses of cultural objects and texts in class as well as public space.

Participants agree to take part in a day-long field trip on 27 January to investigate masculinities in Berlin's public space as part of the Seminarleistung. The excursion is integral to this course and for this reason it is mandatory to attend. Please do not register for this course of you may not be available on 27 January.

Given that applications exceed the limit for admission, applicants are required to attend the first session and submit a printed two-page letter detailing their personal motivation, what they intend to achieve within the ambit of this course as well as their previous (scholarly) experience in the fields of cultural and gender studies.

There will be no sessions on 13 November, 20 November, 22 January.

3 ECTS ungraded
successful completion of readings, regular participation in in-class discussions, participation in the field trip and 1,000-word session summary as well as brief presentation thereof (pass/fail)

3 ECTS graded
successful completion of readings, regular participation in in-class discussions, participation in the field trip and presentation plus write-up of three commented theses for in-class discussion of a primary/secondary text (ca. 1,000 words, graded)

6 ECTS graded
successful completion of readings, regular participation in in-class discussions, participation in the field trip and presentation plus write-up of a cultural studies analysis during the field trip (ca. 2,000 words, graded)