Gender and Queer Studies
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to train students in theoretical and methodological reflection on gender studies and queer theories as applied to literary texts and literary phenomena, providing them with in-depth knowledge of the field's key concepts, categories, and debates. The course also aims to equip students with tools to examine, from a historical and comparative perspective, processes of canon formation and interpretive practices, highlighting their epistemic, cultural, social, and political implications.
Expected learning outcomes
Expected learning outcomes include: knowledge of the main theoretical developments in gender studies and queer theories and their critical vocabulary; the ability to identify and articulate fundamental methodological issues; the ability to apply these tools to the analysis and interpretation of literary texts from different periods and in different forms, recognising how gender and sexuality shape the construction of subjectivities, aesthetics, and narrative and poetic forms; the ability to critically discuss the assumptions and effects of the interpretive readings proposed, assessing their strengths and limitations; the ability to relate theoretical and methodological reflection to the practices of literary criticism and to problematise the institutional and cultural conditions of the production, transmission, and teaching of literature
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
he course will address some of the main theoretical and methodological issues in feminist literary criticism, gender studies, and queer theory through the discussion of selected foundational essays.
The course will also engage with literary works from different genres and periods, ranging from Greek tragedy and seventeenth-century theatre to the modern and contemporary novel, in order to test, question, and problematize the theories discussed.
The course will also engage with literary works from different genres and periods, ranging from Greek tragedy and seventeenth-century theatre to the modern and contemporary novel, in order to test, question, and problematize the theories discussed.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of literary theory
Teaching methods
The course will be taught through lectures and periodic discussion sessions with the instructor, in person (Alfa mode). Students are advised to read the literary works and critical essays on the syllabus during the course, so as to participate more actively in discussions. Any additional materials proposed as prompts or further resources will be shared through the course MyAriel website.
Class attendance is strongly recommended.
Class attendance is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
1) A course reader of theoretical texts provided by the teacher, including:
a) Adriana Cavarero, "Nonostante Platone. Figure femminili nella filosofia antica" [1990], pp. 7-43
b) Adriana Cavarero, "Donne che allattano cuccioli di lupo. Icone dell'ipermaterno" [2024], pp. 6-28 e 49-72
c) Elaine Showalter, "La tradizione femminile", in "Una letteratura tutta per sé" [1977], pp. 9-28.
d) Elaine Showalter, "Sexual Anarchy" [1990], pp. 105-126
e) Adriana Chemello, "Una Bildung senza roman. Donne in divenire" in "Il romanzo del divenire. Una Bildungsroman delle donne?", 2007, pp. 12-30.
f) Monique Wittig, "Il pensiero straight" [1991], pp. 21-28 e 80-96
g) Adrienne Rich, "Eterosessualità obbligatoria e esistenza lesbica" [1980], "DWF", pp. 5-40.
h) Barbara Smith, "Toward a Black Feminist Criticism" [1978], "The Radical Teacher", pp. 20-27.
i) Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, "Between Men. English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire" [1985], pp. 1-27.
j) Leo Bersani, "Il gay fuorilegge", in "Homos" [1995], pp. 115-174.
k) Jack Halberstam, "L'arte queer del fallimento" [2011], pp. 7-47.
2) One literary text, together with the corresponding critical reading, chosen from the following:
a) Euripide, "Le Baccanti" [406 a.C.], a c. di V. di Benedetto, Rizzoli 2018 (or previous editions; Students are also required to read the "Premessa" and the "Introduzione"); Critical reading: V. Wohl, "Beyond Sexual Difference: Becoming-Woman in Euripide's Bacchae", in "The Soul of Tragedy: Essays on Athenian Drama", 2005, pp. 137-151
b) William Wycherley, "La moglie di campagna" [1675], edited by L. Innocenti, Marsilio 2009; Critica reading: E. Kosofksy Sedgwick, "The Country Wife: Anatomies of Male Homosocial Desire", in "Between Men", Columbia UP 2016, pp. 49-66.
c) Jane Austen, "Orgoglio e pregiudizio" [1813], trad. ita. di S. Basso, Mondadori 2024; Critical Reading: L. Rampello, "La divina Jane Austen", introduzione a "Romanzi e altri scritti", vol I, Meridiani Mondadori, only pp. XI-LXI.
d) Robert Louis Stevenson, "Lo strano caso del Dottor Jekyll e del Signor Hyde" [1886], translated by Michele Mari, Rizzoli 2020; critical reading: E. Kosofksy Sedgwick, "Toward the Gothic: Terrorism and Homosexual Panic", in "Between Men", Columbia UP 2016, pp. 83-96 + S. Karschay, "Degeneration, Normativity and the Gothic at the Fin de Siècle", Springer, 2015, pp. 85-123.
e) Jean Genet, Pompe funebri [1947], il Saggiatore 2007; Critica reading: D. Eribon, "Une morale du minoritaire", Flammarion 2015, pp. 15-68 (Students who do not read French may replace this text with G. Carrara, "L'ira dei dominati: riflessioni sulla narrativa di Jean Genet" in "Forme di una passione", 2020, pp. 161-180 + L. Bersani, "Is there a gay art?" in "Is the Rectum a Grave and Other Essays", 2010, pp. 31-35)
f) Toni Morrison, "Sula" [1973], Sperling & Kupfer 2012 + B. Christian, "Black Women Novelists. The Development of a Tradition", Greenwood Press 1980, pp. 153-179.
g) Monique Wittig, Il corpo lesbico [1973], a c. di D. Ardilli, VandA, 2023 (Please note that no other editions are accepted.); Critical Reading: D. Ardilli, "Prefazione - Eroiche nella realtà, epiche nei libri", ivi, pp. 9-58 + M. Wittig, "Il marchio di genere", in "Il pensiero straight", pp. 97-110.
h) Aldo Busi, Seminario sulla gioventù [1984], any edition.; Critical reading: G. Carrara, "Seminario sulla gioventù, ovvero sul romanzo di formazione omosessuale", in "Narrativa", 2027 (in press).
Students may read the literary works in the original language, provided that they use a reliable scholarly edition.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students are required to supplement the texts listed above with one book chosen from the following:
- Cristina Demaria, "Teorie di genere. Femminismi e semiotica", Bompiani 2019 (Previous editions are not accepted);
- Maggie Humm, "A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism", Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1994;
- Will Stockon, "An Introduction to Queer Literary Studies. Reading Queerly", Routledge 2023.
ALTRE INFORMAZIONI PER GLI STUDENTI
Gli/le studenti internazionali o Erasmus incoming sono invitati/e a prendere tempestivamente contatto con il docente titolare del corso. Le modalità d'esame per studenti con disabilità e/o con DSA dovranno essere concordate con il docente, in accordo con l'Ufficio competente.
Altre informazioni saranno pubblicate sul portale della didattica MyAriel.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with specific learning disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform
a) Adriana Cavarero, "Nonostante Platone. Figure femminili nella filosofia antica" [1990], pp. 7-43
b) Adriana Cavarero, "Donne che allattano cuccioli di lupo. Icone dell'ipermaterno" [2024], pp. 6-28 e 49-72
c) Elaine Showalter, "La tradizione femminile", in "Una letteratura tutta per sé" [1977], pp. 9-28.
d) Elaine Showalter, "Sexual Anarchy" [1990], pp. 105-126
e) Adriana Chemello, "Una Bildung senza roman. Donne in divenire" in "Il romanzo del divenire. Una Bildungsroman delle donne?", 2007, pp. 12-30.
f) Monique Wittig, "Il pensiero straight" [1991], pp. 21-28 e 80-96
g) Adrienne Rich, "Eterosessualità obbligatoria e esistenza lesbica" [1980], "DWF", pp. 5-40.
h) Barbara Smith, "Toward a Black Feminist Criticism" [1978], "The Radical Teacher", pp. 20-27.
i) Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, "Between Men. English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire" [1985], pp. 1-27.
j) Leo Bersani, "Il gay fuorilegge", in "Homos" [1995], pp. 115-174.
k) Jack Halberstam, "L'arte queer del fallimento" [2011], pp. 7-47.
2) One literary text, together with the corresponding critical reading, chosen from the following:
a) Euripide, "Le Baccanti" [406 a.C.], a c. di V. di Benedetto, Rizzoli 2018 (or previous editions; Students are also required to read the "Premessa" and the "Introduzione"); Critical reading: V. Wohl, "Beyond Sexual Difference: Becoming-Woman in Euripide's Bacchae", in "The Soul of Tragedy: Essays on Athenian Drama", 2005, pp. 137-151
b) William Wycherley, "La moglie di campagna" [1675], edited by L. Innocenti, Marsilio 2009; Critica reading: E. Kosofksy Sedgwick, "The Country Wife: Anatomies of Male Homosocial Desire", in "Between Men", Columbia UP 2016, pp. 49-66.
c) Jane Austen, "Orgoglio e pregiudizio" [1813], trad. ita. di S. Basso, Mondadori 2024; Critical Reading: L. Rampello, "La divina Jane Austen", introduzione a "Romanzi e altri scritti", vol I, Meridiani Mondadori, only pp. XI-LXI.
d) Robert Louis Stevenson, "Lo strano caso del Dottor Jekyll e del Signor Hyde" [1886], translated by Michele Mari, Rizzoli 2020; critical reading: E. Kosofksy Sedgwick, "Toward the Gothic: Terrorism and Homosexual Panic", in "Between Men", Columbia UP 2016, pp. 83-96 + S. Karschay, "Degeneration, Normativity and the Gothic at the Fin de Siècle", Springer, 2015, pp. 85-123.
e) Jean Genet, Pompe funebri [1947], il Saggiatore 2007; Critica reading: D. Eribon, "Une morale du minoritaire", Flammarion 2015, pp. 15-68 (Students who do not read French may replace this text with G. Carrara, "L'ira dei dominati: riflessioni sulla narrativa di Jean Genet" in "Forme di una passione", 2020, pp. 161-180 + L. Bersani, "Is there a gay art?" in "Is the Rectum a Grave and Other Essays", 2010, pp. 31-35)
f) Toni Morrison, "Sula" [1973], Sperling & Kupfer 2012 + B. Christian, "Black Women Novelists. The Development of a Tradition", Greenwood Press 1980, pp. 153-179.
g) Monique Wittig, Il corpo lesbico [1973], a c. di D. Ardilli, VandA, 2023 (Please note that no other editions are accepted.); Critical Reading: D. Ardilli, "Prefazione - Eroiche nella realtà, epiche nei libri", ivi, pp. 9-58 + M. Wittig, "Il marchio di genere", in "Il pensiero straight", pp. 97-110.
h) Aldo Busi, Seminario sulla gioventù [1984], any edition.; Critical reading: G. Carrara, "Seminario sulla gioventù, ovvero sul romanzo di formazione omosessuale", in "Narrativa", 2027 (in press).
Students may read the literary works in the original language, provided that they use a reliable scholarly edition.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students are required to supplement the texts listed above with one book chosen from the following:
- Cristina Demaria, "Teorie di genere. Femminismi e semiotica", Bompiani 2019 (Previous editions are not accepted);
- Maggie Humm, "A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism", Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1994;
- Will Stockon, "An Introduction to Queer Literary Studies. Reading Queerly", Routledge 2023.
ALTRE INFORMAZIONI PER GLI STUDENTI
Gli/le studenti internazionali o Erasmus incoming sono invitati/e a prendere tempestivamente contatto con il docente titolare del corso. Le modalità d'esame per studenti con disabilità e/o con DSA dovranno essere concordate con il docente, in accordo con l'Ufficio competente.
Altre informazioni saranno pubblicate sul portale della didattica MyAriel.
FURTHER INFORMATIONS
International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Also students with specific learning disabilities should contact the teacher of the course, in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Further informations will be published on the online Ariel platform
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will consist of an oral interview assessing students' knowledge of the course topics, their ability to present them clearly and critically, including through references to the literary works studied, the accuracy of their language, and the precision of their historical-literary and historical-philosophical references.
The final grade will be expressed on a scale of 30. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.
The final grade will be expressed on a scale of 30. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.
COMP-01/A - Literary Criticism and Comparative Literature - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Carrara Giuseppe
Professor(s)