| Unit name | Queering the Early Modern |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART20041 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Gowrley |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
While issues of gender and sexuality are a central part of art historical discourse when it comes to modern and contemporary works of art, these themes are just as important when analysing images, spaces, and objects from the early modern period. This unit accordingly ‘queers’ the early modern by examining artworks relating to a range of individuals, histories, and identities, all of which challenge and expand upon established models of heteronormativity. Utilising frameworks from gender and sexuality studies and queer theory alongside traditional art historical approaches, this unit will provide a broad perspective on visual and material culture from the Renaissance to the end of the eighteenth century across Europe and its colonial territories. In so doing, it will showcase the overlooked objects, hidden narratives, and the untold stories of queer lives that are revealed when attention is paid to those that canonical art history often overlooks.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit introduces students to a broad range of visual and material objects taken from a variety of cultural contexts and produced over a period of several centuries. As such, it builds on the approaches adopted by units taken in the first year. The unit will also help to develop students’ understanding of vital theoretical, historiographical, and methodological frameworks for art historical study, uniting these with cross-disciplinary perspectives from queer theory and gender and sexuality studies. In so doing, it extends, develops and applies concepts and approaches introduced in year 1 and complements critical models encountered on other second-year units, such as Theorising the Object.
An overview of content
Examining everything from the bulging forms of Renaissance armour, to printed and painted portraits of the enigmatic transgender spy, Chevalier d’Eon, this unit will introduce you to a broad array of images, objects, and spaces through which we can think about issues of gender and sexuality in the early modern period. Focusing primarily on the period 1500-1800, it examines artworks from Europe and its empires, thereby considering how cross-cultural interaction affected notions of gender and sexuality during this time.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit 
As a result of this unit, you will understand the importance of examining issues relating to gender and sexuality in the history of early modern art. You will become familiar with a diverse array of artistic practices and forms of cultural production that both include and go beyond traditional definitions of ‘high’ art, and will consider these across a range of geographical, cultural, and chronological contexts. At the same time, you will learn about individuals, practices, and identities that have often been overlooked by (art) historical enquiry. Revealing myriad queer lives lived and lost, you will discover the importance of this approach to gaining a fuller understanding of the visual and material culture of the early modern world. You will develop a stronger understanding of a range of issues at stake in art history as a discipline, as well as of broader perspectives from cross-disciplinary approaches, like gender and sexuality studies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Group presentation (25%) [ILOs 1-6]
Timed assessment (75%) [ILOs 1-5]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HART20041).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
