8 or 12 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
*
Clayton
Objectives Upon completion of this subject, students will have attained the following: an introduction to major ideas and debates within contemporary feminist theory; analytical reading skills applied to key texts in the area; developed skills of oral presentation and of written argument.
Synopsis This subject aims to provide an introduction to the basic terms, concepts and debates necessary to an understanding of the current state of contemporary feminist theory. Designed to be broadly interdisciplinary in its concerns, it will examine such issues as the formation of epistemologies; linguistic, literary and cultural manifestations of phallocentrism; the construction of bodies and subjectivities; and questions of sexual and cultural difference. These broad issues will be considered through close reading and discussion of selected essays, including work by theorists such as Braidotti, Butler, Cameron, Grosz, Irigaray, Kristeva and Trinh Minh-ha. An approach of learning through a process of debate will also be facilitated through students' presentation of discussion papers to the seminar group. This core subject will thus provide a grounding from which to work productively within other graduate options offered by the Centre for Women's Studies.
Assessment (8 points) Seminar presentation
* Short essay (2000-2500
words)
* Major essay (3500-4000 words)
Assessment (12 points) Seminar presentation
* Short essay
(3000 words)
* Major essay (5000-6000 words)
Readings
A reading packet will be available through the Centre for Women's Studies
Background reading
Marilyn Frye The politics of reality: Essays in feminist theory Crossings Press, 1983
| Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria
3168 Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Caution Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996 |