Course Catalogue

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This course introduces students to queerness in Russophone cultures, exploring written and visual materials from the premodern period through to the present day that are produced by queer people, explore queer topics, or could otherwise be interpreted as queer. We read cultural texts to explore a diversity of Russophone ideas about gender and sexuality across different historical periods and cultural registers. Studying these materials, students learn about queer theory to engage critically with commonplace ideas about LGBTQ+ identities in and beyond Russia. 

20 x 1 hour seminars over both semesters as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in SMLC and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into one of the SMLC Honours programmes, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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Type of Assessment

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Provide students with a detailed understanding of the major issues addressed in queer Russophone culture through literature, art, performance and scholarship; 

■ Explore LGBTQ+ issues in Russophone cultures within a global context through exploration of Russophone responses to Western ideas and cultural forms; 

■ Introduce students to queer theory and facilitate critical reflection on its relevance to Russophone cultures;  

■ Provide students with theoretical tools and cultural texts to articulate ideas about LGBTQ+ identities and their history, in and beyond Russia.  

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Formulate coherent, focused and structured arguments that are informed by a knowledge of the major issues addressed in queer Russophone cultures and reflect on what makes these cultures distinct; 

■ Synthesise and apply important concepts from queer theory and reflect on their relevance to Russophone cultures; 

■ Articulate ideas both orally and in writing about LGBTQ+ topics in a theoretically informed, culturally sensitive and socially conscious way. 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.