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40 413 Feminism in architecture

Credits: 
6
Full course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Feminism in architecture
Course code: 
40 413
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching semester: 
2021 Spring
Assessment semester: 
2021 Spring
Language of instruction: 
English
Year: 
2021
Person in charge
Alma Elisabeth Oftedal
Course content

The course is divided in two parts. The first part is focused on critical discourse analysis. Through the study of poststructuralist discourses such as feminism, queer theory, post-colonial theory, disability studies and animal studies, traditional power-relations will be challenged.   The second part of the course is aimed at bringing the theoretical material to life, and actualizing it in relation to an architectural discourse. In this part, the students study fictional texts related to the topics studied in the first part.  

Feminism has been a disiplin in the architectural discourse since the 70s. The syllabus will be taken from some the many anthologies on this topic, and possibly from the magazine Architectural Review’s special issues on feminism. The fictional texts will be chosen on the basis of their appeal to creativity. 

Learning outcome
  • Knowledge of central directions in modern cultural theory
  • Knowledge of how feminism can be related to architecture
  • Knowledge of how to write a reflection paper
  • Knowledge of how to do artistic investigations on the relationship between literary, cultural and architectural themes.
Working and learning activities

Reading, discussion, reflection, academic writing, artistic research  Academic reflection paper Investigative drawings 

Curriculum
  • Architectural Review 2019. No. 1459. Theme: «Sex+Women in Architecture».
  • Architectural Review. 2020. No 1469. Theme: «Masculinities».
  • Archithese. 2002. No. 2. Theme: «Queer».
  • Chee, Lillian. 2011. «Materializing the Tiger in the Archive: Creative Research and Architectural History». In: Lori A. Brown (ed.). Feminist practices, p. 155-168. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Colomina, Beatriz. 2010. «A House of Ill Repute: E 1027». In: Tanja Jordan and Rikke Lequick Larsen (ed.) Female forces of architecture, p: 68-85. København: Kunstakademiets arkitektskole [Orig.published in: Agrest, Diana (ed.). 1996. As: «Battle Lines: E 1027». The sex of architecture. p. 167-182. New York: Harry N. Abrams].
  • Hayden, Dolores. 2000. «What Would a Non-sexist City Be Like? Speculations on Housing, Urban Design and Human Work». [Orig. published in 1981] In: Jane Rendell et al.(ed.) Gender Space Architecture, p: 266-281. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Kuhlmann, Dörte. 2013. «Women in the history of art and architecture». In: Gender studies in architecture. Space, power and difference, p. 14-31. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Kuhlmann, Dörte. 2013. «The tradition of psychoanalysis». In: Gender studies in architecture. Space, power and difference, p. 67-88. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Rendell, Jane. 2011. «Critical Spatial Practices. Setting Out a Feminist Approach to some modes and What Matters in Architecture». In: Lori A. Brown (ed.). Feminist practices, p. 17- 56. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Woolf, Virginia. 2016. Mrs Dalloway (excerpts). [Originally published in 1925]. Vintage Classics
Form of assessmentGroupingGrading scaleComment
Project assignmentIndividualPass / fail
Vurderinger:
Form of assessment:Project assignment
Grouping:Individual
Grading scale:Pass / fail
Comment: