Modules
Sexuality and Gender in the Ancient World (CLA3020)
| Staff | Professor Rebecca Langlands - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Pre-requisites | The successful completion of at least 90 credits at level 2, of which at least 30 must be in Classics and Ancient History |
| Co-requisites | None. |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
The aims of this module are:
- To examine in detail a wide range of texts and images which provide us with evidence about sexual practices, beliefs and ideologies in the ancient world.
- To explore the way interpretation of this ancient “evidence” has continued to change over the past two hundred years, as it is shaped by the evolving beliefs, prejudices, anxieties and fantasies of the modern world.
- To consider modern debates about, and theoretical approaches to, sexuality and gender and how these relate to the ancient material.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of a wide range of sources relating to sex, sexuality and gender, and evaluate and discuss their significance
- 2. Identify and explain the various theoretical approaches to gender and sexuality in the ancient world, and demonstrate awareness of the subjects central themes and issues
- 3. Demonstrate awareness of the extent to which interpretations of ancient material relating to the themes of sex and gender are shaped by changing modern concerns
- 4. Demonstrate a good knowledge of the history and variety of scholarship on sexuality and gender in antiquity and an understanding of how this scholarship can inform your own interpretation of the sources
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. Demonstrate sophisticated critical and analytical skills which can be applied to the analysis of material from any culture
- 6. Demonstrate appreciation of the issues involved in using ancient texts and images as historical source material and relate sources to their socio-historical context
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. Demonstrate advanced independent and group study skills in research, critical analysis, and the presentation of findings
- 8. Demonstrate advanced ability to select and organise relevant material to produce an argument
- 9. Demonstrate an advanced level of communication skills, both orally and in writing, including confidence and clarity in public speaking
- 10. Demonstrate enhanced ability to reflect on your own work, to respond constructively to feedback, and to implement suggestions and improve work on the basis of feedback
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Term 1: Introductory sessions – modern debates and ancient materials; student-led seminars, each focusing on a different Ancient Greek source in roughly chronological order from the Homeric Hymns to Aristotle and Xenophon.
- Term 2: Student-led seminars covering material from ancient Rome, from foundation myths to the Greek imperial writers Plutarch and Lucian.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 44 | Seminars (1 x 2 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 256 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close study of key primary and texts and scholarship in class, with broader discussions of issues | In class | 1-10 | Oral feedback from peers and lecturer |
| Contribution to discussion forum | 250-350 words each | 1-10 | Written peer engagement |
| Blog title and abstract | 300-400 words each | 1-9 | Oral and written feedback from lecturer |
| First draft of essay for peer review | 3000 words | 1-9 | Peer feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x best comments (self-assessed) from online forum | 20 | 250-350 words each | 1-10 | Mark, written comments, general feedback in seminar, individual feedback from lecturer |
| Essay | 50 | 3000 words | 1-10 | Mark, written comments, general feedback in seminar, individual feedback from lecturer |
| Blog post and self-assessment journal | 30 | 1000 + 1000 words | 1-10 | Mark and written comments on feedback sheet, comments and questions from lecturer and peers |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Forum comments | Forum comments | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Blog post and self-assessment journal | Blog post and self-assessment journal | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Useful course textbook (purchase recommended, available online through the library):
- Skinner, M.B. Sexuality in Greek and Roman Culture, 2005.
A wide selection of set texts is available on ELE and through the online library.
Indicative further reading:
- Allison Surtees and Jennifer Dyer (ed.) Exploring gender diversity in the ancient world (Edinburgh 2020)
- Anna Clark, Desire: a history of European sexuality. (Routledge, 2008).
- John R. Clarke, Looking at Lovemaking: constructions of sexuality in Roman Art 100 BC – AD 250 (California 1998).
- James Davidson, Courtesans and Fishcakes: the consuming passions of classical Athens (1997).
- David Halperin, How to do the history of homosexuality. (Chicago, 2002).
- Laura McClure (ed.), (2002) Sexuality and gender in the classical world readings and sources. Oxford Blackwell.
- Mark Masterson, (ed) Exploring Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World. (2014)
- Thomas K. Hubbard (ed.), Homosexuality in Greece and Rome. A Sourcebook of Basic Documents. University of California Press, 2003.
- Marguerite Johnson and Terry Ryan, Sexuality in Greek and Roman society and literature: a sourcebook (Routledge, 2005).
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
The module has an ELE page; much of the source material and secondary reading is available here in electronic form.
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
2011
Last revision date
08/07/2020
Key words search
Classics, Sexuality, Gender, Ancient World