Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Blood and Guts: Spectacles of the Body
School	Eng, Drama, & Creative Studies
Department	Drama and Theatre Arts
Module Code	10 36196
Module Lead	Dr Gianna Bouchard
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-180 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module will explore theatrical and performative displays and stagings of the body, from scenes of punishment to popular television programmes, such as Embarrassing Bodies, live art and specimens in a museum. Using performance as a mode of analysis, the module will consider how bodies are represented, staged and constructed in different contexts of display, particularly those that are often marginalised or alienated by mainstream social and cultural practices. As part of this examination of bodily display, the module will consider the various political, ethical and cultural implications at stake and how performance might challenge or subvert certain expectations. Indicative topics could include: the Victorian freak show, the anatomy theatre of the Renaissance, the Bodyworlds exhibition, medical television programmes, medical museums, body art practices and illness in performance. Weekly seminars will explore relationships between performance and bodily display through a mixture of performance texts, web material, videos, reviews, interviews and critical essays.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of issues relating to bodily display and performance; Critically engage with the political, cultural and ethical issues that arise from the performances and texts studied on this module; Communicate a detailed knowledge of the methods of critique appropriate to the study of the display of bodies in various contexts. Analyse spectacles of the body through the lens of performance and theatre studies.
Assessment	36196-01 : Presentation : Coursework (25%) 36196-02 : Essay 3000 words : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Group or solo Presentation, 5-7 minutes per student (25%), which may be submitted as a recording. Essay, 3,000-words (75%) Reassessment: Failed component only: Group or solo Presentation, 5-7 minutes per student (25%), which may be submitted as a recording. Essay, 3,000-words (75%)
Other
Reading List