Gender, Sexuality, and History (321-0-21)

Topic

Queer Archival Practicum

Instructors

Amy Partridge
847.491.5872

Meeting Info

University Hall 118: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

In this research seminar we make extensive use of online archival collections and of materials housed in Northwestern's Special Collections to collectively explore distinct conceptions of "pleasure/love" and the (sexual) politics to which they are hitched in the United States from the progressive era through the 1990s, with an emphasis on the Chicago scene. The course is organized around several key terms central to social movements in the United States across this historical period including: "free love", "sexual freedom", "sexual liberation", "revolutionary love", and "safe(r) sex." Our goal in this course is to explore each term in its historical moment, including the social movements that rallied around these formulations, and the theories of sex/gender/sexuality being forged, recuperated &/or revised as part of this process. This course is also intended to introduce students to the practice of archival research and assignments will focus on collective research projects using pre-selected materials & curated collections. Students have the option of submitting a final research proposal that builds on course themes or completing a final research
paper.

Teaching Method

seminar discussion, collaborative group work

Evaluation Method

Course Assignments:
• Regular worksheets or 1-2-page reflection papers on assigned readings
• Regular small research assignments, intended to introduce students to a range of research tools and kinds of research
• 2 mini-document collections with "curatorial" statements (Weeks 5 & 6, & building on in-class research workshops)
• 1 3-4-page final project proposal (Week 8)
• 1 5-8 min. presentation on your final research project (Week 10)
• Final Research Project: options include a final 12-15-page research paper, a URG research project proposal, OR a document collection that includes 8-10 primary source documents and a 5-6-page "curatorial statement"

Class Materials (Required)

All will be provided in Canvas

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration is reserved for Gender & Sexuality Studies students