Looking at Sex

Catalog description

In this course, we will explore what looking at sex can teach us about premodern societies. Using visual and literary sources, we will focus on how to analyze representations of sex acts, sexually suggestive images, and articulations of sexual identities. Erotica and pornography, which comprise various expressions of sexual desire and sexual violence, can offer important insights into social, cultural, and political dynamics. Looking at sex in the premodern period offers us a unique lens on a number of topics, from gendered roles and labor to ideas about romantic love, from religious beliefs to ancient magic and mythologies. Furthermore, by thinking through the unique concerns of these themes, we will engage with a number of pressing conversations around consent, agency, and power as they relate to sexual encounters, while forming productive links with contemporary debates about sex. Please note that this course will include images, texts, and discussions of sexual assault and violence.