Course Description

[This is a certified Communication-intensive (CI) Course which meets all of the requirements endorsed by HKU’s Senate, including (i) the teaching assessment of visual and digital communication ‘literacies’; and (ii) at least 40% of the course grade assigned to communication-rich assessment tasks.]

Different societies have complex histories in which sexualities, pop culture, art, culture, history and performance have always played a role. How do we navigate the intersections and queer transnationalism in the histories and contemporary struggles of selected global cities and ancient societies? This course looks into how genders and sexualities evolved across cultures by examining art practices, cross-media performances, pop culture, fandoms, historicities and the contexts of global cities. How are art and cross-media performances engaged with reshaping, or, in other cases, marginalizing queer realities over the years?

How does K-pop and Korean dramas shape sexualities and fandom? How are sexual expressions and queer art and performances similar and different in New York, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Mumbai among others? In addition, how do these intersections operate both locally and transnationally? Lastly, how do art, media and performance navigate the dominant narratives and transcend the queer realities of these cities?

[A compulsory field trip in Hong Kong will be scheduled during Reading Week.]

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

• 1. Describe and explain how different Asian societies have expressed genders and sexuality at different historical and cultural junctures.
  2. Compare and contrast the different queer and cultural identities from selected global cities in terms of how their societies have curated their queer subcultures.
  3. Examine selected cultural practices that directly impact gender and sexualities in various global cities and how these shape discourses on gender and sexualities.
  4. Create original works for exhibit as well as art performances that synthesize student learning.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)