Overview
This advanced literature course examines representations of self-pleasure across historical periods, genres, cultures, and media. Students analyze constructions of desire, privacy, embodiment, fantasy, pleasure, shame, agency, and social regulation in poetry, fiction, memoir, essays, drama, visual texts, digital texts, and selected scholarly criticism.
The course situates literary representations within historical and cultural contexts shaped by censorship, religion, medicine, psychology, gender norms, sexuality, race, disability, and class. Students apply feminist, queer, psychoanalytic, affect, body, disability, and reader-response theories through close reading, comparative interpretation, seminar discussion, and sustained evidence-based writing. Ethical and precise discussion of sensitive material is emphasized.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze language, narrative form, voice, metaphor, silence, and representation in literary and media texts.
- Evaluate scholarly arguments concerning embodiment, agency, privacy, desire, and social regulation.
- Situate representations of self-pleasure within relevant historical, cultural, and ideological contexts.
- Compare feminist, queer, psychoanalytic, affect, body, disability, and reader-response approaches.
- Synthesize close textual analysis with appropriately selected scholarly research.
- Construct sustained, evidence-based literary interpretations using appropriate disciplinary conventions.
- Discuss sensitive literary and cultural material with precision, respect, and critical self-awareness.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Seminar | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Close-reading exercises (3 × 5%) | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Annotated bibliography | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Seminar presentation | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Comparative critical essay | 30.00% |
| Assignment | Reflective synthesis | 15.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 10.00% |
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.