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Feminist Cultural Activism - WOM00006M

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  • Department: Centre for Women's Studies
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Boriana Alexandrova
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module draws on three main strands: we explore the work of feminist artists, performers and writers; we assess how activists can and do use forms of art for political purposes; and we learn how to produce our own feminist cultural activist material (e.g. pamphlets, photos, slam poetry) for a specific context. No prior artistic skills are necessary.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module ranges across cultural production, theory and activism. We will:

  • make - try out a variety of activities, e.g. zines/pamphlets, photographs, performance;
  • imagine - through practicing art and crafts we will challenge our own beliefs and opinions,
  • think - evaluate perspectives on cultural production in various settings and societies;
  • activate - produce our own feminist cultural activist material in response to specific issues. and develop creative ways of effecting political change;

Module learning outcomes

After successfully completing this module, students should:

  • Be able to critically assess the practices of contemporary feminist cultural activism in a variety of national and international contexts.
  • Be familiar with a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary feminist perspectives connecting activism, art and academic work.
  • Be critically aware of the cultural specificities of and global connections between cultural politics.
  • Have acquired knowledge of a range of cultural methodologies and theoretical models suitable for studying other cultural studies topics.
  • Be well-practiced in seminar presentation, critique and discussion, e-learning, and entry-level skills in a variety of community/ political activities and digital media.
  • Have access to networks with professional, entrepreneurial and political potential.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Feminist Cultural Activism - Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Feminist Cultural Activism - Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Provisional feedback (subject to external examiners' confirmation) by week 6 of the summer term.

Indicative reading

  • Firat, Beg¼m Ozden, Kuryel, Aylin. Cultural activism Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2011
  • Garlough, C.L. On the Political Uses of Folklore: Performance and Grassroots Feminist Activism in India Journal of American Folklore, 121, 480, 2008, pp.167-191.
  • Gauntlett, D, Making is connecting: the social meaning of creativity, from DIY and knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0 Cambridge: Polity Press, 2011.
  • Guerrilla Girls website: http://www.guerrillagirls.com
  • Harris, A., ed. Next Wave Cultures: Feminism, Subcultures, Activism London: Routledge, 2008.
  • Miller, K. Iconographies of Gender, Poverty, and Power in Contemporary South African Visual Culture Feminist Formations 19, 1 2007: 118-136.
  • Miner, V. Writing Feminist Fiction: Solitary Genesis or Collective Criticism? Frontiers: 6, 1/2, 1981.
  • Mullin, A. Feminist Art and the Political Imagination Hypatia, 18, 4, 2003, pp 189-213.
  • Piepmeier, A. Girl Zines: Making media, doing feminism New York: New York UP, 2009.
  • Spence, J. & J Solomon What Can a Woman Do With a Camera? London: Scarlet Press, 1995.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.