Screening Genders, Bodies, Sexualities

Genders, bodies and sexualities are at the heart of many contemporary social, cultural and political debates. This subject examines the representation of genders, bodies and sexualities onscreen, with a special focus on feminist, queer, trans and decolonial approaches to visual media. Weekly film screenings will introduce students to a wide range of film movements and political perspectives which cohere around the body. We will examine both popular and subterranean examples across a range of national contexts, canvassing key movements and genres. Contemporary research in gender and sexuality studies, critical disability studies, trans studies and critical studies of coloniality, race and whiteness will be employed to analyse visual depictions of bodies, desires and gendered identities.

• 1Demonstrate a developing capacity to utilise key concepts in gender studies and contemporary feminist and queer theories of the body.
• 2Examine screen media representations of bodies, genders and sexualities through feminist and queer theoretical frameworks.
• 3Recognise formal, aesthetic and narrative conventions and tropes in the representation of genders, bodies and sexualities onscreen.
• 4Articulate a developing awareness of national and international debates on specific contemporary issues and complex problems connected with sex, gender, bodies and culture in contemporary societies
• 5Communicate their analysis of concepts and theories in Gender Studies effectively in a range oral, written and creative formats.