RELG 370 - Beloved Bodies: Gender and the Erotic in Islamic Literature

FC ARHU CD WADV

4 credits
Is sex an act of worship? Is the sexual body a vehicle for spiritual fulfillment, or an impediment to it? Can we long for divine union and lust after a human beloved at the same time? In this course we will examine how the romantic allure of human bodies has been both celebrated and circumscribed in the literary and artistic traditions of Islam, with a focus on gender and eroticism. Primary sources including scripture, poetry, music, and visual art will be considered alongside theoretical work on feminism, masculinity, queerness, and embodiment in the academic study of religion.

This course is cross-listed with GSFS-370