LALW201 Men, Women, and the Myth of Masculinity 3 cr.

This is a course about the idea of masculinity and how it is portrayed in literature from ancient times to the twenty-first century. In addition to looking at how men traditionally view manhood, it will also look at men’s attitudes toward women, since “masculinity” is usually defined in opposition to “femininity.” Thus we will have plenty of opportunity to discuss perceptions of what it means to be a man or a woman, and to explore the elusive concept of gender identity. Our syllabus will include works by Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Ernest Hemingway, and Medieval feminist Christine du Pisan. We will also be viewing films, including Neil Jordan’s “The Crying Game” and listening to selections from Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni.”

Prerequisites: LALW100; FRSM100

Lecture/Seminar
Culturally Diverse Content
All College Elective