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Titel
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The role of women in literature, society and ads
This course explores how women have been represented in literature, media, and society over time. Early texts like "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Wives and Daughters" show how Victorian ideals portrayed women as weak and dependent. Philosophers like John Stuart Mill challenged these views, calling for gender equality. As time went on, women began finding their voices through literature, music, and activism.
The course also looks at how old gender stereotypes still appear today, especially in media. We examine Disney princesses to explore how female characters have changed, and where they haven't. This includes the concept of baby-face bias, where youthful, childlike features are used to make female characters seem more innocent, passive, or in need of protection.
Finally, we study how ads still objectify women, focusing on Jean Kilbourne’s "Killing Us Softly", which shows how media promotes harmful beauty standards and sexism.
Key themes include the cultural and historical roles of women in the UK and US, using a range of texts, ads, and talks to explore the ongoing fight for equality.
Primary texts:
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. 1892. ”The Yellow Wallpaper” (short story)
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell: "Wives and Daughters" (1866), chapter 1: The Dawn Of A Gala Day
"Pride and Prejudice" (uddrag) (1801) Wider Contexts. Basisbog til engelsk A
af "Kvindernes underkuelse" af John Stuart Mill
"The four waves of feminism"
"Our House Is On Fire" (2019) Greta Thunberg speech
Looking at Disney Princesses through a feminist lens
Women in ads
Videos, films and TED talks:
The First 10 Minutes of "Downton Abbey" | Season 1
Jane Austen's "'Pride and Prejudice': Role of Women." (YouTube: 12 min)
Essential J.S. Mill: Feminism (TouTube:2:24 min)
"Nirvana Were a Feminist Band"
Greta Thunberg: "Our House Is On Fire" | Forum Insight (6 min)
"Pride and Prejudice" 2005 (full movie)
Menken, Alan and Glenn Slater. 2010. “Mother Knows Best” in Tangled (soundtrack). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWzDWkgbTo
Menken, Alan. 2010. “When Will My Life Begin?” in Tangled (soundtrack). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRXmAIHYQR4
Tangled (2010) - Rapunzel leaves the tower: Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiyR01GmDeI (3:59)
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fzZFQBXSLM&t=1s (1:24)
"Why children need better role models than Disney princesses" | Mia Fisher | TED TALK Youth (7:09) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3FX_rSnQ5k&t=18s
Jean Kilbourne "Killing Us Softly 4 - Advertising's Image of Women" (2010) (45 min)
Grammatik, lytte øvelser, terminsprøve, SRP forberedelse.
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