Overview
This advanced research seminar examines erotic and sexually charged hockey fiction as popular literature, fan production, and cultural expression. Drawing on literary studies, fan studies, gender and sexuality studies, media studies, and cultural history, students analyze genre conventions, narrative voice, desire, identification, intimacy, power, consent, embodiment, masculinity, queer interpretation, commercialization, transformative works, platform governance, pseudonymity, and audience communities.
The course develops advanced research competence through close reading, scholarly debate, literature review, research design, source evaluation, and evidence-based argumentation. Students address privacy, copyright, consent, researcher positionality, and the ethical study of sexually explicit or personally revealing materials. Seminar work culminates in a research prospectus and substantial paper or equivalent project, conducted within institutional policy and a respectful, nonjudgmental learning environment.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze complex erotic and sexually charged hockey fiction using methods from literary, fan, gender and sexuality, media, and cultural studies.
- Evaluate scholarly debates concerning representation, desire, power, consent, embodiment, masculinity, queerness, commercialization, and transformative cultural production.
- Formulate focused research questions supported by appropriate primary and secondary sources.
- Synthesize relevant scholarship in a critical literature review and identify methodological limitations and opportunities.
- Apply ethical research principles concerning privacy, copyright, consent, platform governance, and researcher positionality.
- Construct a transparent, evidence-based scholarly argument in a research prospectus and substantial final project.
- Defend interpretive and methodological decisions through oral presentation and constructive peer review.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Critical literature review | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Research prospectus | 20.00% |
| Attendance | Seminar participation and peer review | 10.00% |
| Test | Oral research presentation | 10.00% |
| Capstone | Substantial research paper or equivalent project | 40.00% |
Prerequisites
- Requirement Approval of the Department of Arts for students without the listed prerequisite
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
