Overview
Core components of the programme will familiarise you with the wide range of debates integral to the fields of gender studies, feminist theory, and cultural studies. These include:
- questions about sexual difference and the performativity of gender
- gender, science, debates on affect and emotion
- gender and migration and the new international division of labour
- feminism
You complete one core module and one option module each term, as well as a dissertation module in the spring term. The first core module introduces key debates and developments in feminist theory, cultural theory and, in particular, feminist cultural theory. It introduces both early debates which defined these fields and contemporary developments and departures. More specifically, you will be introduced to social constructivist and post-structuralist perspectives, to ‘new materialism’, to debates on feminism and the critique of universalism; to key questions in relation to feminism and biology; to debates on psycho-analysis and the emergence of queer theory and its intersection with feminist theory.
The second core module examines the place of gender, affect and the body in feminist theory and feminist practice. The course offers you different angles on what has become known as “the affective turn,” placing a strong emphasis on the history of feminist contributions to the study of affect and emotion as well as the body. We ask how bodies are constructed, experienced and lived from a variety of feminist perspectives, attending to questions of corporeal difference, as well as the intimacy of bodies, spaces, objects and technologies. We also reflect on the significance of affect and the body for feminist and queer cultural practices, as well feminist and queer activisms. This module therefore offers instruction in some of the most cutting edge issues in contemporary feminist theory. A team of leading feminist scholars based in the departments of Sociology and Media Communications at Goldsmiths teach this module on the basis of their research specialisms.
There will be a series of dissertation workshops to help you plan and develop your dissertation, especially in regard to issues of methodology and method. Each student will be assigned a supervisor who will work with you to develop your proposal and undertake independent research.
Core modules
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Module title |
Credits |
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Introduction to Feminist and Cultural Theory
Introduction to Feminist and Cultural Theory
30 credits
This module introduces key debates and developments in feminist theory, cultural theory and in particular feminist cultural theory. It introduces both early debates which defined these fields and contemporary developments and departures. This core module does not attempt to map the field of gender scholarship chronologically, nor can it be exhaustive, but instead extrapolates a number of themes around which some of the most influential and defining work has emerged.
You will be introduced to social constructivist and post-structuralist perspectives; debates on feminism, ethnicity and the critique of universalism; key questions in relation to feminism, biology and reproductive technology; debates on family, kinship, and psycho-analysis; the emergence of post-colonial feminism; debates on gender and promotional culture to debates on post-feminist popular culture. You'll also be introduced to the emergence of queer theory and debates regarding the relationship between queer theory and feminist theory.
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30 credits |
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Gender Affect and the Body
Gender Affect and the Body
30 credits
This module examines the place of affect and the body in feminist theory and feminist practice. It will first examine and engage the place of the body within the field of arts, culture and representation; feminist theatre practice; gender, passing and ethnicity, in feminist writing; and in feminist film theory.
Secondly it examines and critically engages the field of emotion, the politics of ‘happiness’, contemporary feminist scholarship on affect, and also the politics of science, technology and transformation in women’s/human bodies.
Third it will consider the issues which arise from old and new flows of migration and other kinds of bodily movement; and finally examine the role and value of narrative in feminist writing. This module therefore offers instruction in cutting edge issues in contemporary feminist cultural theory.
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30 credits |
Option modules
You have 60 credits at your disposal, you can choose any 30 credit modules related to gender from postgraduate modules across the University. You can choose either a regular option (30 credits) or two ‘mini-options’ (2 x 15 credits).
For your other options, you can choose modules from either the Department of Sociology or the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies as they co-convene the programme.
You can also choose from the following departments across Goldsmiths:
Please note that not all modules are suitable for students from all academic backgrounds; you will discuss your choices with the Programme Convenor at the start of your degree.
Assessment
Assessment consists of coursework, extended essays, reports, presentations, practice-based projects or essays/logs, group projects, reflective essays, and seen and unseen written examinations.
Download the programme specification, for the 2019-20 intake. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.