Dirty Deeds: Writing Sexualities after 1660 (U01488)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U01488

It has long been understood that the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Western Europe witnessed the rapid development and increasing codification of the human sciences, a codification which helped to generate a new knowledge of both 'normal' and 'deviant' humanity. Since the later nineteenth century, however, the nature of this process has been the focus of persistent and often vigorous questioning. This course will begin by examining the important work in this area of Michel Foucault, and in particular his analysis of the history of sexuality in modern Western Europe. We will then move on to explore the extensive engagement with the topic of sexuality found in English fiction, drama and poetry between 1660 and 1750, asking how far the discourse of sexual transgression helps to produce the 'truth' of the human, and how far it offers resources for the critical redescription of that 'truth'.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Passes in English or Scottish Literature 1 and English or Scottish or American Literature 2, with a mark of 50 or above at the first attempt in the second year course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Numbers are limited and students taking degrees not involving English or Scottish literature need the written approval of the head of English Literature

? Costs : Essential course texts

Subject Areas

Home subject area

English Literature, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course students will be expected to have:
A broad familiarity with the theoretical issues surrounding the writing and history of sexuality;
A working knowledge of the range of literary and other texts from the Restoration and early eighteenth century which are implicated in the discourses of sexuality.
Students will be able to:
Identify and analyse particular discourses (legal, moral, religious etc.) within which sexuality plays a key role;
Distinguish and compare differing treatments of the topic;
Assess the variety of relevant analyses to which these texts have been subjected.