ENGL 380-02, Topics in Literary Study, Introduction to Queer Theory, Spring 2015

Abstract

The Course: The course aims to introduce students to the key debates and concepts that have arisen with the development of an academic field of inquiry called ‘queer theory.’ We will read various theoretical texts (queer theory) that we will attempt to apply to our own lives/sexual identities, gender identities, as well as to films, non-fiction texts as well as selections of fiction. We will be asking questions such as: What are the problems in-herent in the concepts homosexual, gay, lesbian, straight and bisexual? What is the rela-tionship of queer to feminist? What of transsexuals, transgenders, intersexed people and polysexualities? Does queer provide us with the possibility of a political program of ac-tion or is queering all a game? What assistance does Queer Theory offer to our grasp of the complexities of sexual and gender identity? Course Outcomes: Students are knowledgeable on the history of the development of queer theory and are able to apply theoretical concepts in their daily lives, in other aca-demic fields and to their reading of primary literary, cinematographic and cultural texts.