ANGN 124: SEX, LOVE, and CULTURE

UC San Diego - Winter 1997

There are four (4) required books at the Price Center bookstore and a supplementary reader, available at CalCopy.

The exams will include all readings, whether "covered" in class or not.
They also cover all material introduced in lectures.

There are two optional sections, listed above.

Jan FIRST WEEK

6 M Introduction: (Reader Ch. 1 and Ch. 33)

8 W The Evolution of Sex (Reader: ch. 2,3,4,5; Supp. 1, 2)

10 F Evolutionary and biological backgrounds of Human Sexuality, continued.

SECOND WEEK

13 M Nature and Nurture/ Sex and Gender
(introductory--theme will run throught course)
(Supp. 3, 8) (Reader, Chs.3,4,5)

15 W

17 F continued (Reader Chs. 6,7)

THIRD WEEK

20 M University Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr.

22 W Taboo! Pollution! Why repression? What is the problem with sex?
The comparison of cultures on the permissiveness/repressiveness dimension--a general theme of this course. (Reader: Ch. 19) Supplement 4)

24 F Sex and social relations. Sex as reproduction.
Sexual basis of the family, kinship, and society.
Stealing sex from reproduction.
Marriage vs sexual relations, vs relationships.
Reader, 6, 7,8,12,13,14,15 (Not all can be covered in class. Read on your own for quiz.)

FOURTH WEEK

27 M QUIZ ONE Sex in psychoanalysis: Female and male psychosexual development. Oedipus and the incest taboo. Biological, social, cultural and psychological theories of the incest taboo. critical alternatives. (Reader: Chs. 16, 17, 18)

29 W Continued (Read Manson, Riddles of Eros.)

31 F Continued Supplement: 7.

Feb FIFTH WEEK

3 M Gender: the construction, socialization and enculturation of roles and identities related to sex.
(Reader 9,10,11 , Supplement 5 )

5 W Continued

7 F Sexual "preference" (?) (Reader: Chs. 21-26)
Bi-, Hetero-, Homo-, Auto-, A-, Etc. The spectrum of sex, gender and relations based on them. Biological, Social and cultural factors and socio/political responses.

SIXTH WEEK

10 M Guest Lecture: Cage Hall "Human Sexual Development"

12 W QUIZ TWO Will include Manson. All readings and lecture material so far will be covered.
Read: Gregor, Anxious Pleasures (not included in quiz two)

14 F Cultural Variation and comparison: Worldwide recurrent similarities, dimensions of difference and the causes of variation. (Reader 19, 20,21,27,28)

SEVENTH WEEK

17 M University Holiday: President's Day Holiday

19 W Read Parker, Sex in a national setting: Brazil.

21 F Continued

EIGHTH WEEK

24 M Sex, Disease, and Culture. Reader, chs. 29-32.

26 W Culture, symbols, images and the communication of the erotic. Art, pornography, obscenity, jokes, and myths--"dirty" culture. Supplement 6, mainly from lecture.
SHORT PAPER ASSIGNMENT 3-5 PAGES Anything under this week's topics including some data, some analysis. Possible topics discussed in class. Counts as quiz four.

28 F QUIZ THREE. Attraction and the Sexual Marketplace.

Mar NINTH WEEK

3 M Love (Optional readings will be suggested.)
The love overthrow of arranged marriage; the problem of the origins and distribution of "romantic" love. Love in American culture.

5 W The Sexual Revolution, Feminism, Genderism. Evaluation of extent and social/cultural responses. Culture change and evolution with respect to sex, gender, and relationships. Some recent controversies about Gender.
(Supplement: review 5, read 10, 11).

7 F Relationships continued: Sexual harassment, frontiers and battle-lines.

HAND IN SHORT PAPER (quiz four).

TENTH WEEK

10 M Foucault Power, Politics and Sexuality. Supplement: 12,13.

12 W Reminder that Sex has something to do with reproduction. Natural acts or artifacts. The reproductive revolution and its cultural problematics. Abortion: an index of cultural polarization

14 F LAST LECTURE: Overview

FINAL EXAM MARCH 21 FRIDAY 8:00-11:00 a.m.


Last updated: 29 January 1997