Contemporary Discourses and Narratives of Ageing

About

This course aims to familiarise students with the often sensitive and under-examined subject of ageing from the perspectives of the humanities and gender studies. The objective is to foster a deeper understanding of ageing beyond the more conventional social and medical notions of old age, and enhance students’ critical, interpretative, and creative skills. By equipping them with the tools to analyse and question prevailing assumptions, they will acquire a more insightful and nuanced perspective on ageing and related issues. To achieve this, we will employ a diverse selection of resources to analyse different representations of ageing, spanning genres like fiction, films, theatre, short stories, as well as podcasts, TED Talks, and videos. We will also discuss ageism and the contemporary fear of growing old. While the primary focus is on narratives of ageing, the course also provides valuable insights into broader topics such as dementia, care work, social exclusion, loneliness, sexuality, bodily ageing, and illness narratives, among others. The overarching goal is to interrogate the often negative and stereotypical perceptions of ageing, and foster a deeper understanding of the complexities of growing older in contemporary Western society. The course employs a combination of lectures, readings, class debates, and presentations, as well as visits to art centres and institutions. These visits are scheduled during regular class hours and are equivalent in importance to regular in-class lectures

Course leader

Ieva Stončikaitė

Target group

Undergraduated students (Sophomore, Junior and Senior)

Fee info