The feminist discourse of the 20th century is primarily concerned with subject construction and gender identity as central topics. The thesis that gender identity is not an anthropologically defined constant but a culturally determined category which faces historic development and change in literature, too, is the starting point of this reading oriented seminar.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
Gender Identity and constructions are to be understood as is their development within literature.
Participants will gain the ability to see texts as possibilities to understand and identify social constructs.
Students should be able to analyze gender and power issues.
Students will be able to discuss these topics with examples from literature.
Method of presentation:
Lectures, class discussion and video presentations, excursions, readings, other assignments, group work
Required work and form of assessment:
Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of literature.
Final grades will be based on a midterm (25%) and a final examination (25%), three short papers (25%), and oral participation (25%).
Class attendance is required.
content:
A selected overview of German literature dealing with gender issues from the 18th to 20th century.
Literary developments and turning points.
Thematic topics:
Literary salons (today and in the past);
Feminine stereotypes:
Feminine Myths;
The so-called „Frauenliteratur“ in Former East and West Germany;
Women, Literature, and Transitions: Gender Relations in Modern German Literature
The feminist discourse of the 20th century is primarily concerned with subject construction and gender identity as central topics. The thesis that gender identity is not an anthropologically defined constant but a culturally determined category which faces historic development and change in literature, too, is the starting point of this reading oriented seminar.
None
Lectures, class discussion and video presentations, excursions, readings, other assignments, group work
Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of literature.
Final grades will be based on a midterm (25%) and a final examination (25%), three short papers (25%), and oral participation (25%).
Class attendance is required.
Selections from the Following
Selections from the Following