LMKB_a438 Feminism, literature and television from the 1970s to the present

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Romana Švachová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Zuzana Fonioková, Ph.D.
Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Veronika Bromová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 8:00–9:40 D33, except Mon 18. 11. to Sun 24. 11.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 22 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 20/22, only registered: 0/22, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/22
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This discussion-based seminar, conducted in the form of flipped classroom, i.e., the course involves homework/self-study preparing the students for the upcoming lecture, focuses on group analysis and interpretation of: 1) selected iconic literary works that are classified as literary examples of so-called second, third or fourth wave of feminism; 2) discursive practices in contemporary media. The aims of the course are:
- To introduce students to selected iconic literary works, authors, and the philosophical underpinnings of second-wave feminism.
- To place the above in the context of third-wave feminism, postmodernism, and the development of contemporary art and culture.
- To sharpen the critical thinking and discursive sensitivity of the students through subsequent group discussions and reflections, as well as their scholarly analytical and interpretative skills.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Orient themselves in the contexts of second- and third-wave feminism.
- Identify the connections between second-wave feminism and current trends in art and popular culture.
- Apply the theoretical approaches and methods discussed to audiovisual discourse.
Syllabus
  • 16 Sep 2024: Introductory meeting. Basic concepts + organizational info.
  • Sept 17-22: Home preparation for 1st seminar. Seminar Topic: The trope of the woman-victim I. Reading: Sara Stridsberg: the Antarctic of Love (selected parts). Video: Any TV crime drama episode of your choice. Pre-seminar assignment: Episode summary + brief reflection or analysis of writing/directing choices in the course's e discussion forum (ELF).
  • Sep 23: First seminar, discussion. Topic: The trope of the woman-victim I.
  • 24-29 September: Home preparation for the 2nd seminar. Seminar topic: Trope of the Woman Victim II. Reading: Angela Carter: The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (selected short stories). Video: Selected episodes of The Handmaid's Tale series.
  • Sept. 30: Second seminar, discussion. Topic: Trope of the Woman-Victim II.
  • October 1-13: Home preparation for the 3rd seminar. Theme: Woman as an inanimate object (trophy, body, machine, tool...) I. Subtheme: The body as public property × the body as the canvas of life. Reading 1: Elsa Kemppainen: Of Milk and Rhine (excerpt from the book published in PLAV 6/2022). Reading 2: Helene Cixous: Hyperdream (selected parts in English translation). Video 1: Episode of the reality show Love Island. Video 2: Episode of the reality show Naked Attraction.
  • October 14: Third seminar, discussion. Theme: Woman as an inanimate object (trophy, body, machine, tool...) I. Subtheme: Body as public property × body as canvas of life.
  • October 15-20: Home preparation 4th seminar. Woman as an inanimate object (trophy, body, machine, tool...) II. Subtopic: Woman as a commodity and a trained customer. Elfriede Jelinek: Mistress. Video: Any TV or internet advertisements targeting women or girls or using gender stereotypes. Pre-seminar assignment: summary of the advertisement + short reflection or analysis of the discourse of the advertisement in the course discussion forum (ELF).
  • Oct 21: Fourth seminar, discussion. Seminar topic: woman as an inanimate thing (trophy, body, machine, tool...) II. Subtopic.
  • 22 Oct-3 Nov: Home preparation for the 5th seminar. Topic: (Woman) Unexpressed or the trope of the (in)visible, (un)represented, (un)heard woman. Generic masculinum and other problems in language and mind. Helene Cixous: The Laughter of Medusa. Pre-seminar assignment: Visiting the theatre performance by E. Lietavová, P. Boušek, V. Všianská: Heroines of Reconciliation.
  • November 4: Fifth seminar, discussion. The topic. Subtopic: Generic masculinum and other problems in language and mind.
  • November 5-10: Home preparation for the 6th seminar. Seminar Topic: Laughing together. Humor as a tool of subversion and a means of encounter(?). Video 1: Hannah Gadsby: Nanette. Video 2: Selected episodes of the TV series Fleabag.
  • 11/11: Sixth seminar, discussion. Topic: Laughing Together. Humour as a tool of subversion and a means of encounter(?).November 12-24: Home preparation for the 7th seminar. Seminar Topic: How to Diversity? Monique Wittig: Opoponax. Video: Selected episodes of the television series Arcane.
  • Nov. 25: Seventh seminar, discussion. Topic: How to do diversity?
  • 26/11-1/12: Home preparation for the 8th seminar. Seminar topic: So what about this binarity? Theory a/versus practice. Reading/Video: to be added. Pre-seminar assignment: experimental mini-workshop on non-binary Czech.
  • 2. 12: Eighth seminar. Topic: So what about this binary? Theory and/versus practice.
  • 12/3-8: Homework and preparation for the last meeting. Topic: Oxymorons and paradigms. Experimental (quick) workshop écriture féminine.
  • 9 Dec. Final meeting.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • MORRIS, Pam. Literatura a feminismus. Vyd. 1. Brno: Host, 2000, 232 s. ISBN 8086055906. info
  • ADICHIE, Chimamanda Ngozi. Feminismus je pro každého. Translated by Petr Štádler. První vydání. Brno: Host, 2018, 61 stran. ISBN 9788075774682. info
  • VALDROVÁ, Jana. Reprezentace ženství z perspektivy lingvistiky genderových a sexuálních identit. Vydání druhé, v Karolinu. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2023, ii, 462. ISBN 9788024656502. info
  • FORMÁNKOVÁ, Lenka and Kristýna RYTÍŘOVÁ. ABC feminismu. Brno: NESEHNUTÍ, 2004. info
Teaching methods
The subject is based on the flipped classroom model, i.e., homework, readings, class discussions.
Assessment methods
Students have the task of earning a predetermined number of points during the course of the course, which will be assigned during the semester for activity in class discussion and for completing assignments in the course. To be specified at the start of the course.
Náhradní absolvování
It is not possible to take the course as a substitute.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/LMKB_a438