Universität Wien

120134 AR Advanced Cultural Studies Course (426) = Cultural/Media Studies 1/2 (Cultural/Media Studies) (2009S)

Gendered De/constructions in the Media: Abu Ghraib, Desperate Housewives, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Slash

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

Für den Schwerpunktbereich applied ling. anrechenbar.
Diese LVA gilt für das Masterstudium English Language and Linguistics nach UG2002, das Diplomstudium (UniStG) und das Lehramt UF Englisch (UniStG).

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 11.03. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 18.03. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 25.03. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 01.04. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 22.04. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 29.04. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 06.05. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 13.05. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 20.05. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 27.05. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 03.06. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 10.06. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 17.06. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Wednesday 24.06. 18:00 - 20:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course examines key issues related to the cultural representations of "masculinity and femininity" at the intersections of race, ethnicity, and sexuality within popular culture and mass media. Its focus is on gendered constructions, and, more specifically, on the various mechanisms by which the ideas "masculine" and "feminine" have come to be presented - and indeed appear to us - natural and unchanging. It is generally recognized that medial practices (visual and textual) condone, contribute to, resist, or subvert the cultural construction of gender stereotypes. Taking our point of departure in post/structural understandings of language and signs and the "linguistic turn" in cultural theory (St.Hall), we move from constructivist to deconstructivist positions and from performative conceptions of gender (J.Butler) to gendered performances. Given that visual media produce meaning in written languages as well as in "nonverbal codes, such as the visual and auditory languages of film and TV" (Kellner), we clarify theoretical, methodological issues involved in the shift from textual towards pictorial and visual analysis (R.Stam). Over the course of the semester we explore gender and racial stereotypes, gender bending, and transgression of gender hierarchy by engaging with a variety of media texts and sources (film, television, print/news media, magazines, internet). There will be screenings, clips, etc. in class that may include - but are not restricted to - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Desperate Housewives, The Simpsons, Abu Ghraib, Slash-fanfiction, Word Girl, advertisements.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance (mandatory), active participation in class, presentation of position papers,"reflective memoranda" (i.e. thoughtful responses to the reading and class-room discussion); short essays

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

It is the aim of this course to introduce students to the various ways in which gender-related visual phenomena have been theorized and studied within contemporary cultural, gender, and postcolonial studies. It should help to understand the ways in which media gives meaning to gender representations, which stereotypes and myths it draws upon and how it manifests, maintains, and/or de/constructs gendered power relations. We will focus specifically on the different problems, positions, debates, and methods with the aim of developing a "toolkit" of interpretative approaches and enhancing critical insight.

Examination topics

Students engage in small-group discussions and staged debates, presentations, and write short papers on required readings (texts and visual clips), engage with and critically reflect upon the material. Together we clarify concepts, discuss theories while providing instruction for further reading.

Reading list

A reader will be provided

Association in the course directory

426, 428, 436, 438, 722, 3051, 3052

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33