Ateneo - UPO

The development of international queer theories and their theoretical and activist reception in Italy

Liana Borghi, Fare mondo. Affetti, pratiche, femminismi, ETS 2023

Nick Walker, Neuroqueer, ETS 2025

Emilio Amideo, Il corpo dell’altro, ETS 2021

Audre Lorde, Zami, ETS 2014

* To acquire a historical knowledge of queer theories and p,olitical and activist practices in Italy from the 1990s to the present. * To establish links between theories, everyday practices and political positions around gender, race and sexuality from a contemporary perspective. * To be able to present and discuss different positions in the texts examined during the seminar, both orally (in class discussions) and in the final exam podcasts, avoiding generalisations and commonplaces.

None

Introductory lectures; seminar discussions on texts weekly assigned by the teacher or recommended by invited guests.

Given the nature of this seminar module, regular attendance is highly advisable (min. 75%). Maximum number of participants: 20. Students who are unable to attend regularly (at least 75 per cent of sessions) will be required, for each session missed, to answer guidance questions on each text discussed in that class. This program is designed to be consistent with Goals 4, 5, 16) of the UNESCO 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Quality Education, Reducing Gender Gap; Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Classroom presentations on texts discussed in the seminar. A podcast presentation at the end of the module on a book agreed with the lecturer (length 12 minutes). Assessment will be based on attendance and participation (20 per cent); interim presentations (20 per cent); and the final podcast (60 per cent). The seminar will be passed if all three assessed components are marked as ‘sufficient’.

The seminar presents an introductory overview of the theoretical and political debates related to the development of the queer, LBGTQ+ and transfeminist movement from the 1990s to the present, specifically in Italy. Primary instrument will be the reading of "Queer in Italia 2" (available for purchase or in the library). INTEGRATION OF THE GENDER DIMENSION: The entire seminarcfocuses on these issues and places the gender dimension at the centre rather than simply integrating it into the module.

Through reading and discussing the text "Queer in Italia 2", the collective drafting of a glossary and meetings with guest speakers, the following will be developed:
* the ability to read and understand argumentative essays, identifying key ideas and the various positions presented;
* the ability to think critically about common and naturalised ideas;
* the ability to contextualise debates surrounding the body, gender and sexuality in the contemporary era within historical, political and cultural frameworks, with particular attention paid to the complexity and non-neutrality of discourses, and to the intersectionality of differences;
* the ability to communicate effectively via podcasts in relation to a text to be presented independently.