| Unit name | Sex, Marriage, and Deviance in the Medieval and Early Modern Eras |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS30077 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Balserak |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit explores aspects of Western understandings of human relationships: marriage, family, sex, divorce, celibacy, and social notions of 'deviance' and the ramifications of all of these ideas. It examines sex as conceived of by the church, the law, and civil society in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. In considering views and practices which deviated from what was deemed appropriate, this unit will explore issues related to cross-dressing, gender, homosexuality and the like, and will examine how such conduct was dealt with by both church and state.
Aims:
(1)To provide a detailed introduction the sexual lives of Early Modern Europeans.
(2)To develop an in-depth understanding of the religious, cultural and institutional contexts informing this
(3)To develop the skills necessary for identifying and evaluating pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent arguments
(4)To develop written presentation skills through the course assessment.
On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the sexual lives of Early Modern Europeans; (2) in-depth understanding of the religious, cultural and institutional contexts informing this; 3) demonstrated the ability to analyse and evaluate competing perceptions of this topic; (4) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate cogent argument; (5) displayed high level skills in evaluating, analysing, synthesising and (where apt) critiquing ideas.
Students will also be expected to show:
(6) skills in critical thinking and in written communication appropriate to level H.
Seminars - 3 hours per week
One summative coursework essay of 3000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%). Both elements will assess ILOs (1) (2) (3). The coursework essay in particular will offer students the opportunity to demonstrate ILOs (4), (5) and (6).
William Naphy, Sex crimes: from Renaissance to Enlightenment (Tempus, 2002).
Jeffrey Richards, Sex, Dissidence and Damnation; Minority Groups in the Middle Ages (Routledge, 1991).
Sex, Marriage, and Family in John Calvin's Geneva, eds John Witte Jr and Robert Kingdon (Eerdmans, 2005).
Robert Kingdon, Adultery and Divorce in Calvin’s Geneva (Harvard University Press, 1995).
