Seminar: Queer(ing) Narrative - Details

Seminar: Queer(ing) Narrative - Details

General information

Course name Seminar: Queer(ing) Narrative
Subtitle
Semester WiSe 2024/25 [inaktiv]
Current number of participants 25
Home institute Institut für Anglistik
Courses type Seminar in category Teaching
First date Wednesday, 16.10.24, 10:15 - 11:45 o'clock

Rooms and times

Otto-Behaghel-Str. 12 (GCSC), Konferenzraum,

  • Wednesday, 10:15 - 11:45, weekly (from 16.10.24)

Informationen für das eVV

Studienbereiche/Modulzuordnungen

Comment/Description

Narratives fundamentally shape our lives – how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Not only do narratives help us make sense of past experience by giving them shape, they guide how we experience the present moment, and how we envision the future. In short, narrative structures inform our thinking and perception. In queer theory, however, the logic of narrative has caused a certain suspicion: narrative is seen as a normalising tool, a patriarchal instrument that defines and upholds traditional forms of masculinity and femininity. If narratives are inherently heteronormative, can there be such a thing as queer narrative?
In order to establish an understanding of this ‘antinarrative’ position in queer studies, we will take a closer look at what ‘narrative’ means, what it looks like in but also outside of literature, and how it functions as an interdisciplinary concept. We will examine the ways certain plot structures and character constellations convey heteronormative values, who is awarded a happy ending and who gets to tell the story. Perhaps the most interesting question, however, is whether narrative can be queered and what that can look like. Queer narratives can be expected to subvert conventional storylines and challenge traditional narrative forms, which makes them intriguing texts to read – and particularly fruitful subjects of analysis (which will give us ample opportunity to hone our reading skills!).
In this course, the queer critique of narrative will serve as a starting point to an introduction to narrative theory as well as queer theory and some of its key concepts. The concern with the normative aspects of narrative is not only relevant to a queer perspective, but can be extended to narrative’s functions in our society and culture more generally. Moreover, questions of queerness also frequently invite the engagement with other key concepts of cultural theory, such as postcolonialism and race. In particular, this course is interested in the varied and multifold potential of narratives for individuals and communities, as well as in the more specific potential of literature and other narrative media.
We will read two novels in this class, and discuss some further examples (you are welcome to also make suggestions). Please get your own copy of the two novels before the beginning of the term. Further reading will be made available during the semester.
Jackie Kay, Trumpet (1998)
Jordie Rosenberg, Confessions of the Fox (2018)
Content note: Kay’s Trumpet features deeply transphobic characters and their use of language. A confrontation with this can be avoided by reading only selected chapters of the novel. Please get in touch with me for more detailed instructions, if you want to make use of this option.

Admission settings

The course is part of admission "Anmeldung gesperrt (global)".
The following rules apply for the admission:
  • Admission locked.