Introductory description

This module examines the role of gender and sexuality in contemporary society and artistic practice. Through practical exploration and seminar discussion we will analyse the ways in which performance engages with, reveals, challenges, deconstructs and resists normative gender and sexuality. A key focus will be on questions of identity, power relations, and the politics of the body. We will take an intersectional approach to the subject and interrogate the purpose and problems with the ways gender and sexuality are conceived, performed, and policed.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module will engage with a number of examples from a range of performance practices to examine the roles that such performances have played in contribution to debates and discourses around gender and sexuality. Examples will be drawn from performance art, performance poetry, plays, radio drama, stand-up comedy, drag, TV, and photography to allow the students to engage in creative exploration and analytical debate. Each weekly three-hour workshop-seminar will focus on a particular example of performance and explore its own particular contribution to gender and sexuality discourses.. In each case the performance material will be framed by sets of weekly theoretical, cultural and historical readings in order to properly contextualise the work.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Discuss the ways in which late twentieth century and twenty-first century performance artists, theatre practitioners and playwrights have explored the relationships between gender, sexuality and power in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.
• Analyse a range of plays and performances in order to identify and explore ways in which dominant norms around gender and sexuality have been challenged and resisted.
• Explore how performances of gender and sexuality contribute to an understanding both concepts in terms of the agency of bodies in the social world.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how key conceptual frameworks can inform the creation and analysis of contemporary theatre/performance both in theory and practice.
• Engage in practice-based research as a means to interrogate gender politics.
• Engage in research-based investigation of appropriate primary and secondary source material.
• Communicate what they have learnt both orally and in writing.

Indicative reading list

Examples of the types of reading you will encounter on this module include:

Sophie Lewis, Full Surrogacy Now
Susan Stryker, The Transgender Studies Reader
Kara Keeling, Queer Times, Black Futures

Research element

The assignments will be informed by the student's own research.

Subject specific skills

Discuss the ways in which late twentieth century and twenty-first century performance artists, theatre practitioners and playwrights have explored the relationships between gender, sexuality and power in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.

Analyse a range of plays and performances in order to identify and explore ways in which dominant norms around gender and sexuality have been challenged and resisted.

Explore how performances of gender and sexuality contribute to an understanding both concepts in terms of the agency of bodies in the social world.

Engage in practice-based research as a means to interrogate gender politics.

Demonstrate an understanding of how key conceptual frameworks can inform the creation and analysis of contemporary theatre/performance.

Engage in research-based investigation of appropriate primary and secondary source material.

Communicate what they have learnt both orally and in writing.

Performance skills, devising skills, group work skills, research skills, analytical skills communication skills, presentation skills.

Transferable skills

research skills
analytical skills
communication skills
group-working skills
presentation skills