Universität Wien

123223 SE Literature Seminar / BA Paper / MA British/Irish/New English (2019S)

Abused Womanhood: From the "Mad Woman in the Attic" to #MeToo

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

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. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Tuesday 19.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 26.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 02.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 09.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 30.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 07.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 14.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 21.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 28.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 04.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 18.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
Tuesday 25.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this course, we will examine various literary and cinematic portrayals of abused women, thus tracing the history of female oppression, misogyny, and sexism. We will discuss painful stories of girls and women who have fallen victim to patriarchy and certain “norms” and standards imposed on them. Focusing on such issues as (mental) disability, racism, pregnancy, abortion, motherhood, lesbianism, domestic violence, rape, harassment, and the female body, we will analyze the ways patriarchy and sexism reduce women to objects that belong to men. Finally, we will discuss how these multiple stories of gender inequality can be used to fight sexism and address the problem of women’s empowerment and freedom.

PLEASE NOTE: This seminar will be accompanied by the Schreibassistenz program offered by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL). In this context, students are required to meet with a writing assistant twice (approx. 50 minutes per meeting) to discuss and receive feedback on their written assignments which they will then, after having sufficient time to rework them, have to submit as part of the seminar credit requirements.

Assessment and permitted materials

Requirements:
Attendance and active participation in course discussions (a maximum of two absences will be allowed); oral presentation; abstract and paper proposal (students will work on that with their writing assistants); term paper/bachelor thesis. Students are expected to read the novels and watch the films that are scheduled for the sessions with the “(Presentation)” sign.

Presentation:
A presentation should last around 30-40 minutes. Its chief aim is to discuss the main text (novel or film) and outline the key issues raised in the article that is assigned for the session.

Abstract: 150-200 words (grade: pass/fail)

Proposal: 500-600 words

Term Paper/Bachelor Thesis:
Term paper topics are chosen by the students but can be discussed with the instructor. The structure of a term paper will be explained by the instructor in the first session. Any form of plagiarism will result in a failing grade.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Active participation in class discussions: 20%
• Oral Presentation: 10%
• Abstract and Paper Proposal: 10%
• Term Paper/Bachelor Thesis: 60%

To pass the course, students must attain at least 60%

Grades in %:
• 1: 90-100%
• 2: 80-89%
• 3: 70-79%
• 4: 60-69%
• 5: 0-59%

Examination topics

There will be no written exam at the end of the course.

Reading list

Students need to purchase the following texts (and preferably start reading/watching them before the semester starts):

Novels:
• Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966)
• Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood (1979)

Graphic Novel:
• A.K. Summers, Pregnant Butch: Nine Long Months Spent in Drag (2014)

Films:
• Brian De Palma, Casualties of War (1989)
• Mike Leigh, Vera Drake (2004)
• Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures (2016)

Secondary source materials will be made available via Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.4-322, BA10.2, MA4,
Lehrinhalt: 12-0449

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33