Proseminar Queer Postmodernism

Theories and findings of gender or queer studies have become a useful tool for the analysis of works of literature. In this seminar we will look at the representation of homosexuality in both literature and film. The topics will include the negotiation of homosexuality with the surrounding more or less homophobic environment, the transgression of gender norms in society, as well as the interconnection of aesthetic form and gender identity. The two novels we will read and discuss are Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant and Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man, which were both written and published in the 1960s, a time when homosexuality was still far from social acceptance. While The Naked Civil Servant demonstrates how miserable life could be for an openly homosexual during the first half of the 20th century in London, A Single Man examines one day in the life of a middle-aged homosexual in the USA of 1962. Even though the protagonists offer two completely different approaches to the problems concerning their sexuality, both novels shed light on the relationship between their sexual subjectivity and the heteronormative societies they live in. Similarly, the films included in this seminar each focus on different aspects of gay life both in Great Britain and the USA. The film A Single Man offers an interesting option to compare the literary original to its adaption, just as Howl, which not only adapts Allen Ginsberg's eponymous poem, but also depicts scenes from the poet's life. Equally dealing with historical events, the British film Pride depicts the work of gay activists to support the miners' strike of 1984. Thus, in this seminar you will not only learn to apply gender studies to works of literature and film, but also how to compare the different media in their possibilities and limitations to represent homosexuality. Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant (1968) Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man (1964) A Single Man (2009, dir. Tom Ford) Pride (2014, dir. David Livingstone) Howl (2010, dir. Rob Epstein und Jeffrey Friedman) Bemerkung Doppelsitzungen, Fr 10-14 Uhr: 18.11.16: R. 0209 (Systembau 2) 16.12.16: R. 0209 (Systembau 2) 27.01.17: R. 0104 (Systembau 1) Voraussetzungen All interested students are required to have successfully completed the OK Introduction to English and American History and Literature. Please purchase the books and read Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant as a preparation for the first session. Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation and contribution to class by preparing a group session is obligatory in order to receive credits for this seminar. Depending on the amount of credits and your Modulprüfungsordnung you may be required to write a term paper. Lerninhalte The participating students will be introduced to gender and queer theories as well as their application for the analysis of literary texts and films. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik All interested students are required to have successfully completed the OK Introduction to English and American History and Literature. Please purchase the books and read Quentin Crisp's The Naked Civil Servant as a preparation for the first session. Regular and active participation and contribution to class by preparing a group session is obligatory in order to receive credits for this seminar. Depending on the amount of credits and your Modulprüfungsordnung you may be required to write a term paper. Uni Kassel WiSe 2016/17 Anglistik/Englisch Müller Anna