KnowledgeBase:Syllabus Archive
English 288 Sexual Diversity in Literature and Film Jeanne Hamming Spring, 2002 TR Home
Jeanne Hamming
English 288: Sexual Diversity in Literature and Film
Spring, 2002
TTH 4:00-5:15
342 Brooks
Office: 125 Stansbury Hall
Office Hours: TTH 5:20-6:00 or by appointment
jhamming@wvu.edu

Course Description:
In this course we will examine the construction of modern conceptions of lesbian, gay, and bisexual "identity." Topics to be addressed will include: the essentialism/constructionism controversy in relation to gender and to sexual preference, changing historical definitions of sexual minorities, and contemporary stereotypes and cultural representations of lesbigays, including: the relation of sexual orientation to modern notions of gender (drag, butch/femme, "drag kings"); metaphoric links between homosexuality and disease, specifically AIDS; and current "political" controversies about civil rights, changing ideas of the family, gay marriage, and the origins of sexual orientation.

Required Texts:
Leslie Feinberg. Stone Butch Blues
Ursula K LeGuin. The Left Hand of Darkness
Annamarie Jagose. Queer Theory
Tony Kushner. Angels in America, 1 and 2

There will also be selected films shown in class.

Evaluation:
Course grades will be based on:
Either: 4 Response Papers (2-3 pp each) or Midterm essay (6-8 pp): 40%
Final Exam: 40%
Class Discussion and Focusing Questions: 20%

Attendance:
You are allowed three absences. If you miss class a fourth time, you will fail the course.

Course Schedule:

T 1/15 Introduction to Course Policies and Procedures
Video: Intersexuality

TH 1/17 Introduction to Queer Theory
Reading: Jagose, All (except introduction and afterward)

T 1/22 The Origins of Sexual Orientation
Reading: Burr, "Homosexuality and Biology" (handout)

TH 1/24 The Origins of Sexual Orientation
Reading: Ford, "No Splashing in the Gene Pool" (handout)

T 1/29 Gender-bending?
LeGuin, 1-161

TH 1/31 Gender-bending?
LeGuin, 162-301

T 2/5 Essentialism vs. Constructionism
Reading: Stone, "Cross-Dressing Psychiatrist," Vance, "Social Construction Theory and Sexuality" (handouts)
Response Paper Due

TH 2/7 Essentialism vs. Constructionism
Reading: Judith Halberstam, "F2M..." (handout)

T 2/12 Film: You Don't Know Dick

TH 2/14 Film: You Don't Know Dick
Discussion: You Don't Know Dick

T 2/19 History
Film: Before Stonewall

TH 2/21 History
Film: Before Stonewall

T 2/26 More History
Feinberg, 5-80 See Feinberg's website at www.transgenderwarrior.org

TH 2/28 More History
Feinberg, 81-153

T 3/5 More History
Feinberg, 155-226

TH 3/7 More History
Feinberg, 227-301
Optional Midterm Essay Due
Response Paper Due

T 3/12 Coming Out
Reading: Sedgwick, "Epistemology of the Closet" (handout), Rich, "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" (handout)

TH 3/14 Coming Out
Reading: Creet, Anxieties of Identity: Coming Out and Coming Undone" (handout)

T 3/19 Film: Better Than Chocolate

TH 3/21 Film: Better Than Chocolate
Discussion: Better Than Chocolate

3/25-3/29 Spring Break

T 4/2 AIDS
Reading: Sontag, "AIDS and its Metaphors" (handout)
Response Paper Due

TH 4/4 AIDS
Meyer, "Rock Hudson's Body" (handout)

T 4/9 AIDS
Kushner, Millenium Approaches

TH 4/11 AIDS
Kushner, Perestroika

T 4/16 "Real Men"
Simpson, "Male Impersonators," excerpt (handout)
Response Paper Due

TH 4/18 "Real Men"
Reading: Webb, "Junk Male" (handout)

T 4/23 Film: My Own Private Idaho

TH 4/25 Film: My Own Private Idaho
Discussion: My Own Private Idaho

T 4/30 Capitalism and Gay Identity
Reading: Clark, "Commodity Lesbianism" (handout) See also: Hamming, "Whatever Turns You On..." at www.genders.org issue 34

TH 5/2 Capitalism and Gay Identity
Reading: Allen, Lesbian and Gay Studies..." (handout)
Review for Final Exam

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 7, 8:00-10:00 Ê

 

Unless otherwise noted, items published by the Center for Literary Computing are copyrighted by the authors and may be shared in accordance with the Fair Use provisions of U.S. copyright law. Redistribution or republication on other terms, in any medium, requires express written consent from the author(s) and advance notification of the publisher.
Go To Top