Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble (1990) radically changed the way that we think about gender and sexuality. The philosopher argues that gender identity is not an intrinsic essence. Instead the illusion of a gendered identity is created through the way we walk, talk, dress, and act in accordance to gender norms. The “trouble” that Butler evokes in her title refers to several things. In patriarchal culture, she argues, woman (other and unknowable) has always been a source of trouble. At the same time, patriarchy is founded upon a perception of sexual difference that affirms the superiority of the male subject. Binary notions of masculinity and femininity, attached to heteronormative sexuality, bolster existing power structures. To challenge these concepts thus challenges the social order.

This module aims to demonstrate how Butler’s thinking has permeated German culture and politics. It will provide students with an overview of contemporary gender debates in Germany, from ongoing discussion of abortion, family politics, sexual violence, marriage for all, transgender rights, and the legal recognition of non-binary gender to the gender politics of the far-right. At the forefront of our conversations will be a consideration with how gender intersects with other forms of oppression and privilege. Excerpts from contemporary gender and queer theory will support students’ work with primary material, from films and novels to media sources. On top of this, we will consider the different ways in which cultural production troubles gender norms.

Indicative Module Plan:

Alongside excerpts from theory and debates in mainstream and social media, we will be examining the following primary works:

• Week 1: Excerpts from Judith Butler's Gender Trouble and May Ayim's blues in schwarz weiss (1995)
• Week 2: Performance and Performativity: Kutluğ Ataman, Lola und Bilidikid (1999)
• Week 3: New Queer Cinema: Angelina Maccarone, Fremde Haut (2005)
• Week 4: New German Pop Literature: Benjamin Lebert, Crazy (1999) --- Random House, ISBN 9783570305805
• Week 5: Hegemonic Masculinity: Benjamin Lebert, Crazy (1999) --- Random House, ISBN 9783570305805
• Week 7: Digital Activism: #aufschrei and #ausnahmlos
• Week 8: #regrettingmotherhood: Verena Friederike Hasel, Lasse (2015) --- Ullstein, ISBN 9783843711845
• Week 9: Afro-Futurism and the Posthuman: Sharon Dodua Otoo, "Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin" (2016) --- Fischer 9783103971859
• Week 10: Gender Trouble Reloaded—Enter AI: Marina Schrader, Ich bin dein Mensch (2021)

Within the conceptual frame of gender trouble, these works will allow us to consider the pop literature movement, postmodern literature and plagiarism, transculturation, Germanness in the post-unification era, ethical storytelling.

While students are expected to read and watch the films in the target language, and quotations should be in German, the primary teaching and assessment language is English.

Please note that these texts deal at times with difficult subject matter, including suicide, bereavement, sexual violence, racist abuse, incest, and drug use, as well as some graphic depictions of violence and sex. Students will be warned in advance if these topics will feature in the reading and will have the opportunity to flag any potential concerns before class --- either anonymously or in person. Where classroom discussion focuses on these issues, the approach aims to be both sensitive and academically rigorous; however, the module convenor is open to discussing and accommodating student concerns.