Sex and the City and the Contemporary Woman

In this class, we will explore the hit HBO show, “Sex and the City.”  We will discuss the different themes of female sexuality, women’s rights, marriage, homosexuality, and urban life through analyzing the different characters and topics presented in the series. 

While this is a class about the contemporary woman, many of our discussions will include sensitive subject matter. We will be watching the uncensored version of HBO’s Sex and the City and as such there will be a lot of mature and graphic content, including nudity and profanity. Sexual anatomy, homosexuality, race and gender issues, abortion, and other graphic topics will be discussed in class, and students should be forewarned that no graphic content will be censored or cut in any way. Students are both expected and required to show courtesy and respect to their fellow students and facilitators during discussion and debate and while viewing the television show.

Each class is themed with a specific topic. Each week we will watch one or two episodes addressing the theme and spend the remaining time in discussion of episodes and readings.

Weekly Readings:

Weekly readings can be found in the course reader (at ZeeZee Copy) and are required for this class. You should bring your reader with you when you come to class.

Weekly Responses:

Each student is required to turn in three responses on the topics discussed in class. They can be written on any of the class topics in the syllabus, but they must be turned in at the beginning of the class after the week on which you have written.  The responses should refer to both to the episodes and readings for the topic you choose. No late papers will be accepted. Responses are worth 15 points each.

Reading Quizzes:

There will be two pop quizzes on the reading at some point in the semester. Each quiz will be worth 5 points and will be designed to test what you have read for that week. The quizzes will be five questions each, and should be straight-forward if you have done the reading.

Final Project:

Each student will be required to turn in a final exam for the class. This exam may be a 5-page analytical paper discussing a topic relevant to our class discussions or a project of your choosing. If you choose to write a paper, you must use at least three sources and cite them. Failure to cite your sources will be considered plagiarism. If you choose to do a project you may work alone or with one or two other people. Your project must relate to the themes of the class and you will be required to give a two minute presentation to the rest of the class. Both projects and papers must be cleared by the facilitators. A project proposal will be due two weeks before the project due date.  

Attendance and Participation:

Attendance is mandatory in this class. A maximum of 2 unexcused absences will be allowed before receiving a “no pass” grade. Excused absences will be waived at the facilitators’ discretion. Absences due to conflicting midterms must be cleared at the beginning of the semester! By the second class you must have given the facilitators the dates of your midterms to be excused from classes. This is YOUR responsibility!

It is also mandatory that you arrive on time for class. Anyone more than ten minutes late (that is 20 minutes past the hour) will be considered absent except in the case of emergencies.

If you need to leave class early, please tell us beforehand. If you must leave half an hour early or more, you may be considered absent. This will be up to the facilitators’ discretion.

‘Sex and the City’ and the Contemporary Woman is a discussion based class. Please come prepared each week with a discussion question on the readings to direct large or small group discussion. We will note who is participating and may call on you at random. Participation is mandatory to receive a passing grade.

Five points will be awarded every week for attendance and participation.

Grade Breakdown:

A passing grade is 65% or more, or 97 points out of 150.