Students

FOAR706 – Feminism, Queer Theory and the Problem of Identity

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Chelsea Barnett
Australian Hearing Hub, Level 2
By Appointment
Chelsea Barnett
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines the ways in which various contestations (over postmodernism, poststructuralism and queer theory) challenged the foundational categories of feminist theory in the 1980s and 1990s. The unit will ponder whether the call for a contingent feminist theory and practice undermined or, in fact, invigorated feminist critical thought and practice. Through an engagement with the various critical frameworks that emerged in the wake of these contestations, the unit will then examine the reformulations and reframings that feminist scholars have produced in the decades since these interventions. What do these new critical frameworks seek to explain? Do they represent a return or a critical rupture? Are we living in a post-feminist moment? This unit will be framed as a cross-disciplinary unit, students are encouraged to bring their diverse disciplinary perspectives to the discussion and assessment.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Critically reflect on the relationship between feminist politics and research in the humanities and social sciences
  • Exercise independence in the identification of a research problem and formulate a sophisticated approach to investigate it
  • Practice ethical and inclusive engagement with learning peers
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Seminar Participation/Blogs 25% No Ongoing
Critical Review 25% No Friday 30 March 2018, 5pm
Research Essay 50% No Friday 8 June 2018, 5pm

Seminar Participation/Blogs

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 25%

Students should come to the seminars ready to engage and discuss the weekly materials.There is no hurdle requirement to come to class – if students haven’t completed the readings, attendance is not recommended.  Please also be aware of others in the seminar-room and differing levels of familiarity with feminist thought – some students will not have engaged closely with this material before.  

In order to satisfy the requirements for this assessment, each week all students must contribute either a "post" or a "response" to the class blog. This can be accessed via iLearn, and in our first seminar of the semester we will nominate discussion leaders for each week. 

These blog posts are a way to demonstrate your ongoing engagement with the material we look at in this course. This is not an assessment, then, in which you must prove your expertise. Rather, use this task as a space in which you can further discuss the ideas we ponder in class, ask any questions that we might not have had time for, or to clarify with your classmates any material you find difficult. Each blog post should be around 100-200 words. They do not have to be fully referenced, although if you draw on material beyond the required readings, it is a good idea to note the texts you've used.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Critically reflect on the relationship between feminist politics and research in the humanities and social sciences
  • Practice ethical and inclusive engagement with learning peers
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

Critical Review

Due: Friday 30 March 2018, 5pm
Weighting: 25%

Write a critical review of one piece of scholarship (article or book chapter) that engages with a concept/idea developed in one of the weekly seminars.  Select a piece of scholarship that emerges in your own field. You should consider how this piece of research engages with the concept you have selected and consider its utility in your chosen research field (ie, is the sex/gender distinction useful for media studies?). 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

Research Essay

Due: Friday 8 June 2018, 5pm
Weighting: 50%

Produce a piece of independent research that employs a key framework from the weekly topic schedule.  You should design this project yourself. Students must obtain approval for their research topic (via appointment).  The essay should be submitted via turnitin.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Exercise independence in the identification of a research problem and formulate a sophisticated approach to investigate it
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

Delivery and Resources

Seminars will take place Fridays, 1pm-3pm. Unit readings are accessible through iLearn or the library catalogue. 

Unit Schedule

  • Week 1                      Are we “post” feminism?
  • Week 2                      Contested Foundations I: Identity
  • Week 3                      Contested Foundations II: Experience
  • Week 4                      Contested Foundations III: Agency
  • Week 5                      Contested Foundations IV: Bodies
  • Week 6                      Contested Foundations V: Queer / Sexuality
  • Week 7                      Reformulations I: Intersectionality

 

  • Week 8                      Reformulations II: Psychoanalysis
  • Week 9                      Reformulations III: Inter/subjectivity   
  • Week 10                    Reformulations IV: Emotion/Affect
  • Week 11                    Reformulations V: New Materialism
  • Week 12                    Feminist Im/possibilities
  • Week 13                    No Class - Essay Writing Week

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Review
  • Research Essay

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Critically reflect on the relationship between feminist politics and research in the humanities and social sciences
  • Exercise independence in the identification of a research problem and formulate a sophisticated approach to investigate it
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar Participation/Blogs
  • Critical Review
  • Research Essay

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of key debates in feminist theory
  • Critically reflect on the relationship between feminist politics and research in the humanities and social sciences
  • Exercise independence in the identification of a research problem and formulate a sophisticated approach to investigate it

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar Participation/Blogs
  • Critical Review
  • Research Essay

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Exercise independence in the identification of a research problem and formulate a sophisticated approach to investigate it

Assessment task

  • Research Essay

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice ethical and inclusive engagement with learning peers
  • Demonstrate advanced written and verbal communication skills to deploy feminist categories of analysis

Assessment tasks

  • Seminar Participation/Blogs
  • Critical Review
  • Research Essay

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically reflect on the relationship between feminist politics and research in the humanities and social sciences
  • Practice ethical and inclusive engagement with learning peers

Assessment task

  • Seminar Participation/Blogs