Gender and visual cultures

The course is a freestanding course.

This course explores foundational concepts for thinking about the intersection between gender and visual culture. It provides an overview of key concepts and theories within feminist film studies and gender oriented media studies. Students will acquire tools to critically reflect on the interplay between gender and sexuality, ethnicity, class, and age within visual media. The course is focused on analyzing how power relations are represented, negotiated, and challenged in contemporary film, photography, art, and media imagery. The course also develops the students’ ability to contextualize and analyze visual media in relation to current debates on equality and diversity.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for key concepts and foundational theories within feminist film and media studies,
• describe how a critical gender perspective can influences the writing of history and the interpretation of visual cultures such as art and cinema,

Skills and abilities 

• critically analyze visual culture in films, photographs, art, and media images, using relevant concepts from gender theory,
• contextualise contemporary debates on gender equality and diversity within film and visual culture from a historical and social perspective,

Evaluative skills and attitudes 

• critically examine and evaluate source materials,
• reflect on, and apply gender theory when discussing visual media cultures in an independent way,
• discuss the applicability of theoretical concepts within feminist film and media studies.

The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, seminars and screenings of audiovisual material.

Language of instruction: English.

The course is assessed through seminars and a written home exam.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Aspects of gender equality and equal treatment will be considered in the content, the literature, the teaching, and the evaluations of the course.

This is a translated version of the Swedish original. In case of differences between the Swedish version and the English translation, the Swedish original shall prevail.