English: Ecofeminism & Literature

Advanced study in literary genres, forms, and themes. Representative topics: Noir in Fiction and Film; Great American Race Novel; Post-Apocalyptic Fiction. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Credit not awarded for both ENGL 3100 and ENGL 5100. Prerequisites: ENGL 1500, ENGL 2000; English major, Secondary Education with a concentration in English, or English minor; minimum Junior standing.

Asynchronous online

Ecofeminism is a field of study that is concerned with relationships between humans and the natural world. Exploring the connections between environmentalism and feminism, the field of ecofeminist studies specifically addresses the traditional interpretation of "nature" as female (or feminine), the connection between the oppression of women and the exploitation of nature, and ways in which environmental issues often affect women. In this course, we will read from a broad range of ecofeminist texts. Our goals will include learning about ecofeminist approaches to literature, studying various ecofeminist theoretical responses to environmental issues as well as developing our own personal views of feminism, literature, nature, sustainability, and patterns of environmental domination. Our reading list will include authors such as Virginia Woolf, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, Jane Smiley, Maxine Hong Kingston, Wangari Maathai, Rachel Carson, Val Plumwood, Vandana Shiva, and Carolyn Merchant.