26028 - Women's Travel Literature

Learning outcomes

The student acquires historical and literary knowledge of women's popular culture with specific reference to travel literature and critical utopias, within a gender perspective.

Course contents

Icons of the Sixties

The title of the course is WOMEN'S POPULAR CULTURE and even though the title of this single module is WOMEN'S TRAVEL LITERATURE, the topic of the lessons will not be women's travel literature but the representation of women in popular culture,  more specifically in English society and culture during the decade of the Sixties. Some relevant female figures in the cultural and social context of the period will be introduced and analyzed: fashion designers like Mary Quant, models, actresses, writers and singers, but also women involved in well-known scandals or trials of the decade, like Christine Keeler.

Readings/Bibliography

Selected passages from the following texts (soon available on IOL):

 

Mary Quant, Autobiography 

Marianne Faithfull, An Autobiography

Christine Keeler, Secrets and Lies

Jane Birkin, Munkey Diaries

Edna O'Brien, Country Girl

Assessment methods

Final oral exam. The presentation of a written paper or an oral presentation of a topic covered in the course or agreed with the lecturer can be arranged.

Attendance and class participation will also be assessed as a component of the final overall mark.

Office hours

See the website of Gino Scatasta