GWS 281

Fall 2020

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Women in the Literary Imagination
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Credit: 3 hours.

Same as ENGL 281. See ENGL 281.

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CRN Type Section Time Day Location Instructor Section Details
43574
Online
F1
2:00PM -2:50PM
MWF
n.a.
Baron, I
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/20-12/09/20
Section Title:
Unsung Heroines
Section Info:
Unsung Heroines In Young Adult Lit - From the angry voices of the MeToo# movement to the change in the guard in Congress, women are challenging traditional stereotypes about gender politics in America and Britain and supplanting the patriarchy with authoritative female leaders. Literature is often viewed as a barometer of social change. Over the last few years, the pendulum has swung from celebrating pieces that are saturated with tributes to the iconic white male savior in series such as The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Spiderman and Thor to embracing novels and films that explore a gender directive that celebrates the agency of women. But just how empowered are women in this seemingly new Golden Age of gender realignment? In this class, we will examine the rise of women in as central heroic figures in Young Adult fantasy and dystopian literature from the early 20th century to the early 21st century. We’ll focus on how women transformed from being depicted as delicate little flowers who needed constant male protection to being portrayed as commanding symbols of Girl Power. In addition, we’ll examine how the rise of fantasy lit aligned with the changing social dynamic of women in Western culture along with the three major waves of the feminist movement. And finally, we’ll trace how women went from being sexualized objects who existed merely as eye-candy for superhero hetero men to being morally and physically superior entities who can change the world for the better and are not idealized just to maintain the status quo. Novels include: Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Golden Compass, Twilight and The Hunger Games, and films and TV may include Game of Thrones, Wonder Woman and Fantastic Beasts. Class work will include three papers and an oral presentation along with active participation.
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