Unit Readings

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today, Chapter 10 (Queer Theory)

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today, Chapter 12 (Postcolonial Theory)

Selection of Short Stories and Poems by Contemporary Authors (TBA)

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson

White Material, dir. Claire Denis

In this Unit...

We will end our survey of British Literature in the contemporary era, where we find more diversity in British literature's voice. Using the encompassing theories of Postcolonialism and Queer Theory, we will review our previous readings and evaluate their levels of inclusivity and sexual fluidity.

As our final official text, we will read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and as we do so, we will workshop creative writing pieces that opens up previously-read British works to multiple genders, sexualities, races, and religions.

Core skills

1) TBA

Essential Questions

1) In what ways has the "classical canon" of British literature withheld, silenced, or ignored voices of its minority cultures?

2) In what ways can patriarchal, heterosexist texts unconsciously showcase sexual fluidity?

3) What are ways in which we can incorporate more diverse voices into our own culture?

Supplemental Texts and Helpful Links

TBA

Final Projects

For our creative project, we will construct short works (either poem, play, script, or short prose) that transforms a previously read work of the year (from Beowulf to Brave New World). One can transform this work either by "Queering" it (making the characters more sexually fluid or ambiguous) or by placing the story in the context of another culture.