GEND 2850 Sex and the Arts

Including films, music videos, and musicals this course examines varied depictions of sexualities in the arts (defined broadly), especially those that intersect with music. Alongside the study of culture and interdisciplinary musical arts, students learn and apply concepts and information from gender studies. Selected pieces require students to explore marginalized cultures in the United States and consider systems of privilege and oppression and other issues associated with the intersection of gender, sexualities, race, socio-economic status, and other markers of diversity. Collaborating in pairs, students complete research assignments related to a semester-long fieldwork project with a local music culture of their choice. They apply scholarship and instruction on participant observation fieldwork and library research associated with their selected local music culture. The fieldwork project (and experiential learning component) for this class requires some off-campus activities to be arranged by the student.