UMass Boston

Sexuality in Nature & Culture

Course #: ENGL 179GL, Class #: 5073, Section #: 01

Description

This course explores texts and film in order to expand, complicate, and challenge the way students think about diverse sexualities and genders. The course will ask where ideas about sexuality and gender come from, and question whether those ideas are rooted in nature or culture. Students will examine theories and concepts addressing cultural norms, systems of power, and the performance of the self. Students will become familiar with methods of analysis from a range of disciplines, including literature, women's studies,, cultural studies, biology, psychology, philosophy and law. As the class investigates sexuality and gender, students will engage in self-evaluation, examine methods of reasoning, and ask questions about cultural values and inheritances.

Prerequisites

Degree students only, with fewer than 30 credits when they entered UMass Boston. Students may complete only one 100G course (First Year Seminar).