Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer narratives often hold a revelatory place in the personal identity formation of many British and Irish people in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Indeed, queer literature offers a powerful site for identity critique and formation. In the nascent genre of the 'coming out' story, in narratives of both personal and systemic oppressions, as well as in tales of outward resistance, queer writers in Britain and Ireland have used (and continue to use) literary modes to speak back to the very cultural homophobia and transphobia, which marginalises them and their communities. This module invites students to explore the unique place that literature and art maintains in the formation of LGBTQ political identities, cultures, pasts, and futures; students will also be prompted to consider how queerness—specifically in Britain and Ireland—intersects with categories such as class, race, nationality and others. The module will consider a broad range of British and Irish LGBTQ writing from the late twentieth century to the present: sampling significant texts in poetry, drama, prose, and television drama.
Contact Hours: 32
Private Study: 268
Total: 300
Main assessment methods:
Essay 1 (3,000 words) - 40%
Essay 2 (3,000 words) - 40%
Seminar Participation - 20%
Reassessment methods:
100% coursework (4,500 words)
The University is committed to ensuring that core reading materials are in accessible electronic format in line with the Kent Inclusive Practices. The most up to date reading list for each module can be found on the university's reading list pages: https://kent.rl.talis.com/index.html
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Read and respond critically to a range of queer poetry, drama and fiction
2. Learn to situate and discuss queer literary texts in their historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts
3. Explore the specific connection between literature and queer activism in British and Irish writing
4. Explore a range of theoretical approaches to literary texts, including queer and trans perspectives
5. Develop an ability to interrogate and understand contemporary queer cultures in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their ability to analyse texts critically and make comparisons across a range of reading
2. Demonstrate their command of English and their abilities to articulate coherent critical arguments
3. Understand and interrogate various critical approaches and the theoretical assumptions that underpin these approaches
4. Demonstrate their abilities to carry out independent research
5. Demonstrate their presentational skills
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
