Lecture (LEC)

• Above class meets with CMLT-C 400 and CULS-C 701

Critical sexuality studies emerged as a way to study the many ways power and the body collide, including race, gender, sexuality, and size. In this class we seek to understand sex/sexuality and how it is represented and functions within literature, art, music, theatre, and film. Even though we are going to examine various genres¿our inquiry will be grounded within the discipline of performance studies as a means to center the body as the key signifier and actor of sexuality. We will read and examine texts from a variety of cultures and historical contexts; students will be encouraged to put course materials in conversation with their own specialties and interests. NOTE: Students should be aware that many of the texts in this course are sexual in nature, sometimes explicit or violent, and often deal with difficult situations, viewpoints, histories, and traumas