What makes a real man? To understand how ideals of masculinity have varied over time this course focuses on historical figures whose lives help to open up the changing ways in which masculinity has been embodied, tested, challenged and violated, as well as the authorities and cultural practices that have shaped codes of masculinity. Students will explore how and why notions of ‘manliness’ have shifted in the context of revolution, war, exploration, imperialism and anti-colonialism.

Course materials include theoretical and historical readings on gender, plus fact-based and fictional texts, including published and manuscript documents, painting, photography, monuments, music and film.  

By the end of this course you will, upon successful completion, learn how to analyse the historical contingency of gender identities, and to see how they are historically contingent, rather than natural or timeless.

1:The lectures will broaden students' knowledge of Western history, as well as the history of exemplary historical figures.

2: The concept map will demonstrate students' capacity to evaluate and compare historical and theoretical analyses of masculinity.

3: The research essay will demonstrate students' capacity to undertake original research and to apply key course concepts in original case studies of historically-situated masculinities.

4. The submission of discussion points in tutorials will demonstrate students' capacity to understand assigned readings and improve their ability to think historically. 

5. The final exam will demonstrate students' capacity to link concepts raised in the lectures to the assigned readings in novel ways.

Concept map and explanatory essay (400 words) 15% [2]

Essay research plan (400 words) 10% [3 ]

Research essay (2000 words) 50% [3 ]

Tutorial participation: 10% [4,5]

Final examination 15% [5,4,2,1 ]

1 x 1.5-hr hour lecture per week plus 10 x 1 hour tutorials during the semester, plus six hours of non-contact independent study per week.

Two first-year courses to the value of 12 units in History, or in Gender, Sexuality and Culture, or with permission of the Coordinator.

Students with the prescribed qualifications should be well equipped to enrol.  

E-Brick

This course may be counted towards a Gender, Sexuality and Culture or History major.