Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
What roles did men and women play in Greek and Roman society? How many genders were there in antiquity? What did ancient writers think about heterosexual and homosexual relationships? How did ancient doctors conceptualise the human body? Were ancient Christian attitudes towards sex different from those of non-Christians of the same period? This unit addresses these questions, as well as others, by introducing students to ancient attitudes towards sex, gender, and conceptions of the human body from Classical Greece through to the advent of Late Antiquity.
In the first part of the unit, students will investigate ancient sexualities and attitudes towards sex through a close reading of poetry (such as poems by Sappho, Catullus, Ovid), and by interpreting the material culture from the ancient world (erotic art, graffiti). In the second part of the unit, students will consider constructions of gender during the early centuries CE, using the ancient Greek novels as a starting point. Students will investigate not only how the ethical vocabulary of Greece and Rome was heavily gendered, but also how it evolved over time. In the final component, students will investigate how conceptions of the human body changed from Classical to Late antiquity, by examining art, medical texts, and also the writings of Christian theologians.
Ultimately, this unit challenges students to think more deeply about the differences and similarities between ancient and modern approaches gender, sexuality, and the body, and the utility of employing contemporary theoretical frameworks for interpreting the ancient evidence.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2024 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 option in the Classics and Ancient History; Gender Studies major sequences
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) identify some of the key characteristics of Greco-Roman attitudes towards sex, gender and conceptions of the human body during the period of the Roman Empire; (2) evaluate the different types of evidence studied (literary texts, sub-literary texts, inscriptions, and material culture) that contribute to our understanding of Greco-Roman attitudes towards sex, gender, and conceptions of the body; (3) critically evaluate modern scholarship relevant to the area of study; (4) conduct research in this area of study using print and electronic resources; and (5) demonstrate critical reasoning and analytical skills.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) examination; (2) assignment; and (3) tutorial participation. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Christopher Mallan
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Any Level 2 CLAN, HIST
or GEND unit - Advisable prior study
- CLAN1002 Glory and Grandeur
- Contact hours
- Lecture x 1 hr per week
Tutorial x 2 hrs per week (up to 3 hours per week)
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.