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Sexual Politics of the 18th Century
FREN252 SP

Crosslistings: WMST258

From the courtly romances under Louis XIV to the seditious pornography of the Revolution, the ideal of the aristocratic woman became eroticized to signal both moral and political corruption. The metaphor of the body politic, (im)moral education of and by women, and incompatibility of femininity and virtue will be examined in major texts (by Montesquieu, Graffigny, Marivaux, Diderot, Rousseau, Laclos, Sade) and libertine novellas, plays and pamphlets against Marie-Antoinette.

MAJOR READINGS

Montesquieu, LES LETTRES PERSANES Duras, OURIKA Graffigny, LETTRES D'UNE PERUVIENNE Marivaux, "La Colonie" Diderot, LA RELIGIEUSE Rousseau, "Sophie" in EMILE Laclos, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES Sade, LA PHILOSOPHIE DANS LE BOUDOIR Foucault, L'HISTOIRE DE LA SEXUALITE (selections) plus anonymous pamphlet literature.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Short papers and oral reports.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: FREN215 OR FREN223

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000


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