In this course, students will learn to appreciate and analyze design elements in theatrical contexts by applying class instruction in a wide variety of design-related topics to independent research and peer discussions. A focus of the work will be on a vigorous exchange of observations, ideas, and critical analysis of how design elements and topics--ranging from the human brain to fashion history--affect our perception of character and story in live performance and other media, such as television, films and video games.

This beginning level half-course is an introduction to Waacking/Punking, street dance styles that originated in the club scene of Los Angeles in the 1970s. Students will learn the fundamentals of these forms, including the expressive arms and dramatic poses of Waacking, and the improvisation and theatrical flair of its precursor, Punking. Through foundational techniques, movement drills, and choreographed sequences, we will develop rhythm, timing, and style while engaging with the cultural and historical contexts of these bold dance forms.

"What is acting? Who is a performer?” In this course, students develop techniques that they discover and embody, making them their own as they explore acting, identity, and performance theories. Through a combination of critical analysis and practical exercises, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of performance and its impact on both the individual and society.

This course is an introduction to the study and practice of the original form of Hip Hop dance known as Breakin'. Students will learn about the history and origins of Hip Hop culture, including the core four elements: Deejaying, Emceeing, Breakin', and Graffiti. Students will be introduced to the foundational skills of Breakin', such as the Toprock, Go Downs, Footwork, Powermoves and Freezes. Movement will be learned through repetition and freestylin'.

Double course. Open to senior majors in Sexuality, Women’s and Gender Studies who have received departmental approval.

Spring semester. The Department.

How to handle overenrollment: null

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: an emphasis on written work, readings, and independent research. They will be required to meet regularly with the professor.

Open to senior majors in Sexuality, Women’s and Gender Studies who have received departmental approval.

Spring semester. The Department.

How to handle overenrollment: null

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: an emphasis on written work, readings, and independent research. They will be required to meet regularly with the professor.

(Offered as SWAG 400 and POSC 407) The topic will vary from year to year.

(Offered as ASLC 321, FAMS 321, and SWAG 321) Bombay cinema, popularly known as “Bollywood Cinema,” is one of the largest film industries in the world. This course focuses on Bollywood cinema and its local and global offshoots to think about questions of gender, sexuality and agency. The course considers questions such as: What beauty standards are imposed on women in Bollywood and how do they connect to colonialism, race and empire? Do LGBTQ romances in Bollywood endorse homonormative narratives? How do we read the sexualization of the female body in song and dance numbers?

(Offered as SWAG 301 and BLST 301[US]) This interdisciplinary methods course explores the emergent field of Queer of Color Critique, a mode of analysis pioneered by LGBTQ people of color. Using theories and approaches from the discipline of performance studies, the explicit mission of the seminar is to acquaint students with the history, politics, art, and activism of queer and trans people of color while also strengthening student research skills in four overlapping areas: archival research, close-reading, performance analysis, and community engagement.

What does it mean to be a “real man” in the contemporary United States? What impact does masculinity have on sports, pop culture, and health, for example? How do race and sexuality impact masculinity? These are just a few of the questions that we will begin considering in this course. Masculinity, like "whiteness," has long been an opaque social category, receiving scant attention as a focus of study in its own right.