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Academic Year 2005/2006

Sophomore Seminar: Women and Gender in Renaissance Italy
HIST 154 SP
Crosslistings:
WMST 154

This history seminar for sophomores explores the image, role, and modes of expression of women in the lively cultural and business world of the Italian cities and courts between 1300 and 1700. It introduces students to the ways in which historians have asked and answered the question, "Did Women Have a Renaissance?" At the same time it emphasizes research that allows students to offer their own answers to that questions. Notions of gender and ideas about the meaning of male and female were articulated in a variety of settings in Renaissance Italy. While investigating the power of such definitions, the course also sheds light on the richly textured social realities in which Renaissance women grew up, worked, and lived.

MAJOR READINGS

In addition to articles and essays by historians and writings by men and women of the period, we will read the following books:
Virginia Woolf, A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN
Ian Maclean, THE RENAISSANCE NOTION OF WOMAN
Lauro Martines, POWER AND IMAGINATION: CITY-STATES IN RENAISSANCE ITALY
Gene Brucker, GIOVANNI AND LUSANNA: LOVE AND MARRIAGE IN RENAISSANCE
Florence Judith Brown, IMMODEST ACTS: THE LIFE OF A LESBIAN NUN IN RENAISSANCE ITALY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Short weekly writing assignments on the assigned reading; research paper (10 pp.) and oral report.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Active participation in class discussion expected. No late papers.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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