Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - ENGL 486W D100

Topics in Gender, Sexuality and Literature (4)

Class Number: 4683

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One 300 division English course. Reserved for English honours, major, joint major and minor students.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The study of selected literary works as they intersect with and are shaped by issues of gender and sexuality. May be organized by theme, critical approach, historical period, or individual author. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Students who obtained credit for ENGL 486W prior to Summer 2015 may not take this course for further credit. Students who obtained credit for ENGL 486 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Women and Eighteenth-Century London Theatre: Authors, Actresses, Audiences

The restoration of the English throne in 1660 touched off a great new age for theatre, and many of the notable contributions were made by the women writing and performing in plays. What contributions did female authors and actors make to the London theatre world of the “long” eighteenth century (1660-1800), and what working conditions did they endure? Authors like Aphra Behn, Susanna Centlivre, Mary Pix, and Elizabeth Inchbald created rich, dynamic plays that frequently engaged with social issues such as arranged marriage and patriarchal controls over women’s lives. At the same time, male playwrights such as John Dryden, John Vanbrugh, and William Congreve created vibrant roles for many of the century’s most acclaimed actresses, such as Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Barry, Anne Bracegirdle, and Anne Oldfield. We’ll also investigate what it was like to go to the theatre in London during the century, and how audiences were distinguished by gender and addressed during performances.

Grading

  • Attendance and weekly discussion questions 10%
  • Participation in classes (held on Zoom) 10%
  • Reading Journal part 1 15%
  • Reading Journal part 2 15%
  • Research paper (12-14 pages) 35%
  • Final presentation 5%
  • Oral presentation 10%

NOTES:

This course will meet synchronously via Zoom on Wednesdays. Students are expected to screen lectures (available on Canvas), complete all the readings, and respond to other students' response papers in preparation for Wednesday classes.

REQUIREMENTS:

To take this class, you'll need a computer or tablet, camera, and reliable internet access for this course. Headsets are helpful in blocking out distractions but certainly not necessary. My expectation is that students will have their cameras on during synchronous discussions. If you feel uncomfortable with that requirement, please discuss your concerns with me so that we can find a solution.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The Broadview Anthology of Restoration and Early Eighteenth-Century Drama. Ed. J. Douglas Canfield.
[Digital version available from VitalSource. Print version available from broadviewpress.com. If purchasing a print version, buy the regular version of the text (containing 41 plays), not the concise version (containing 21). The concise version omits several plays that we will be reading.]

REQUIRED READING:

The Broadview Anthology of Restoration and Early Eighteenth-Century Drama. Ed. J. Douglas Canfield.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).