In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text Frankenstein, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through...
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From Ovid’s Metamorphosis to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monstruous mutability of the human body has been explored by writers throughout time. We will focus on contemporary writing by female and queer authors from around the globe, whose innovative fictions offer powerful depictions of evolving ideas about the body, identity and its unsettling powers of resistance.
The selection of texts - which range from novellas to short stories - reflect a diverse scene of contemporary writing on the body, including authors like Mariana Enriquez, Carmen Maria Machado, Bora Chung and Rose Keating. This selection also speaks to the surging popularity of genres that have long been disparaged or minoritized within literary fiction, such as horror and sci-fi.
Across six weeks we will engage with themes such as monstrous transformation, reproductive politics, death and decay, and the intersections of trauma and liberation, violence and care. We will consider how contemporary writers use the monstruous body to expose and deconstruct oppressive norms and structures and offer new perspectives on a range of urgent cultural issues and debates.
The course aims to broaden literary horizons and deepen understanding of new trends in contemporary literature,
What will we cover?
The grotesque and the abject in feminist theory
The monstruous productivity of the maternal body
Monstrous transformations of the self via technology
Trauma, resistance, and the rewriting of horror
The intersection of gender, race, and class in body horror narratives
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Demonstrate familiarity with a diverse range of contemporary fiction that explores the body.
Be able to identify thematic and stylistic trends which correspond to wider debates around the body and culture.
Have some understanding of how tropes within horror and sci-fi genres function as a lens for examining real-world issues like gendered violence and bodily autonomy.
Have some understanding of the cultural and political contexts that shape representations of monstruous bodies.
Participate in critical discussion on how the monstrosity of the body as it is depicted in literature can both reflect and challenge the experiences of marginalized groups, particularly women and queer people.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for anyone interested in contemporary fiction, regardless of whether they have studied literature before. All that is needed is an interest in fiction and enthusiasm for reading texts critically and discussing them with others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There will be a variety of teaching methods, including whole group and small group discussions, mini-lectures, working with additional material including critical essays and close reading. While the sessions will be guided by the tutor, there will be an emphasis on group discussion with opportunities for each participant to share their own responses to the texts.
Work outside the class involves doing the set reading for each week, with questions for you to think about in advance.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Digital versions of the stories will be provided by the tutor.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other Literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.
Dr. Katie Goss is an independent scholar, writer and artist whose research covers contemporary literature, culture and thought, queer-feminist theory and philosophy, psychoanalysis, trans* studies, posthumanism, and the environmental and medical humanities. They have taught for a number of years in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary, University of London and their work has been published or is forthcoming in journals including Transgender Studies Quarterly and Film-Philosophy and edited collections like The Edinburgh Companion to Queer Reading and The Queer Feminist Decolonial Ecologies Dossier (LADA 2020). They are currently working on the publication of their PhD research which explores the ‘plasticity’ or bio-material transformability of contemporary embodiment through womxn’s writing and film.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/the-monstrous-body-in-contemporary-fiction3047248The Monstrous Body in Contemporary Fictionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpg169169GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction/Courses/Online courses228511771187118817311228511771187<p>In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text <em>Frankenstein</em>, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through comparative analysis and class discussion we will focus on how representations of the body in contemporary fiction by female and queer authors from around the world surface new cultural anxieties and modes of resistance.</p>003047221The Monstrous Body in Contemporary Fiction169169https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpgInStockEveningThuOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-11-12T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT372169169The Monstrous Body in Contemporary Fiction169110169Katie Gossthe-monstrous-body-in-contemporary-fiction/hlt372-2627<p>In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text <em>Frankenstein</em>, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through comparative analysis and class discussion we will focus on how representations of the body in contemporary fiction by female and queer authors from around the world surface new cultural anxieties and modes of resistance.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-12 00:00:00<p>From Ovid’s <em>Metamorphosis </em>to Mary Shelley’s <em>Frankenstein</em>, the monstruous mutability of the human body has been explored by writers throughout time. We will focus on contemporary writing by female and queer authors from around the globe, whose innovative fictions offer powerful depictions of evolving ideas about the body, identity and its unsettling powers of resistance. </p><p>The selection of texts - which range from novellas to short stories - reflect a diverse scene of contemporary writing on the body, including authors like Mariana Enriquez, Carmen Maria Machado, Bora Chung and Rose Keating. This selection also speaks to the surging popularity of genres that have long been disparaged or minoritized within literary fiction, such as horror and sci-fi. </p><p>Across six weeks we will engage with themes such as monstrous transformation, reproductive politics, death and decay, and the intersections of trauma and liberation, violence and care. We will consider how contemporary writers use the monstruous body to expose and deconstruct oppressive norms and structures and offer new perspectives on a range of urgent cultural issues and debates. </p><p>The course aims to broaden literary horizons and deepen understanding of new trends in contemporary literature,</p><p></p><p></p><p>In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text <em>Frankenstein</em>, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through comparative analysis and class discussion we will focus on how representations of the body in contemporary fiction by female and queer authors from around the world surface new cultural anxieties and modes of resistance.</p><ul><li>The grotesque and the abject in feminist theory</li><li>The monstruous productivity of the maternal body </li><li>Monstrous transformations of the self via technology</li><li>Trauma, resistance, and the rewriting of horror</li><li>The intersection of gender, race, and class in body horror narratives</li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate familiarity with a diverse range of contemporary fiction that explores the body. </li><li>Be able to identify thematic and stylistic trends which correspond to wider debates around the body and culture.</li><li>Have some understanding of how tropes within horror and sci-fi genres function as a lens for examining real-world issues like gendered violence and bodily autonomy.</li><li>Have some understanding of the cultural and political contexts that shape representations of monstruous bodies. </li><li>Participate in critical discussion on how the monstrosity of the body as it is depicted in literature can both reflect and challenge the experiences of marginalized groups, particularly women and queer people. </li></ul><p></p><p>This course is for anyone interested in contemporary fiction, regardless of whether they have studied literature before. All that is needed is an interest in fiction and enthusiasm for reading texts critically and discussing them with others.</p><p>There will be a variety of teaching methods, including whole group and small group discussions, mini-lectures, working with additional material including critical essays and close reading. While the sessions will be guided by the tutor, there will be an emphasis on group discussion with opportunities for each participant to share their own responses to the texts.</p><p>Work outside the class involves doing the set reading for each week, with questions for you to think about in advance.</p><p>Digital versions of the stories will be provided by the tutor.</p><p>Look for other Literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual169169110HLT372NONEThu12/11/26 - 17/12/2618:00 - 19:4518:0019:456 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineKatie GossBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-12T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Culture, history & humanities169169The Monstrous Body in Contemporary Fictionthe-monstrous-body-in-contemporary-fiction/hlt372-2627<p>In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text <em>Frankenstein</em>, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through comparative analysis and class discussion we will focus on how representations of the body in contemporary fiction by female and queer authors from around the world surface new cultural anxieties and modes of resistance.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-12 00:00:00<p>From Ovid’s <em>Metamorphosis </em>to Mary Shelley’s <em>Frankenstein</em>, the monstruous mutability of the human body has been explored by writers throughout time. We will focus on contemporary writing by female and queer authors from around the globe, whose innovative fictions offer powerful depictions of evolving ideas about the body, identity and its unsettling powers of resistance. </p><p>The selection of texts - which range from novellas to short stories - reflect a diverse scene of contemporary writing on the body, including authors like Mariana Enriquez, Carmen Maria Machado, Bora Chung and Rose Keating. This selection also speaks to the surging popularity of genres that have long been disparaged or minoritized within literary fiction, such as horror and sci-fi. </p><p>Across six weeks we will engage with themes such as monstrous transformation, reproductive politics, death and decay, and the intersections of trauma and liberation, violence and care. We will consider how contemporary writers use the monstruous body to expose and deconstruct oppressive norms and structures and offer new perspectives on a range of urgent cultural issues and debates. </p><p>The course aims to broaden literary horizons and deepen understanding of new trends in contemporary literature,</p><p></p><p></p><p>In this literature course we will read, analyse and discuss a variety of contemporary fiction that give innovative representations of the body and its myriad forms of monstrosity. Since Mary Shelley’s seminal text <em>Frankenstein</em>, the unruly powers of non-conforming, hybrid bodies and identities have been a mainstay of women’s writing and queer literature, both within and beyond horror, science-fiction and fantasy genres. Through comparative analysis and class discussion we will focus on how representations of the body in contemporary fiction by female and queer authors from around the world surface new cultural anxieties and modes of resistance.</p><ul><li>The grotesque and the abject in feminist theory</li><li>The monstruous productivity of the maternal body </li><li>Monstrous transformations of the self via technology</li><li>Trauma, resistance, and the rewriting of horror</li><li>The intersection of gender, race, and class in body horror narratives</li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate familiarity with a diverse range of contemporary fiction that explores the body. </li><li>Be able to identify thematic and stylistic trends which correspond to wider debates around the body and culture.</li><li>Have some understanding of how tropes within horror and sci-fi genres function as a lens for examining real-world issues like gendered violence and bodily autonomy.</li><li>Have some understanding of the cultural and political contexts that shape representations of monstruous bodies. </li><li>Participate in critical discussion on how the monstrosity of the body as it is depicted in literature can both reflect and challenge the experiences of marginalized groups, particularly women and queer people. </li></ul><p></p><p>This course is for anyone interested in contemporary fiction, regardless of whether they have studied literature before. All that is needed is an interest in fiction and enthusiasm for reading texts critically and discussing them with others.</p><p>There will be a variety of teaching methods, including whole group and small group discussions, mini-lectures, working with additional material including critical essays and close reading. While the sessions will be guided by the tutor, there will be an emphasis on group discussion with opportunities for each participant to share their own responses to the texts.</p><p>Work outside the class involves doing the set reading for each week, with questions for you to think about in advance.</p><p>Digital versions of the stories will be provided by the tutor.</p><p>Look for other Literature courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk/courses.</p>LiteratureFictionconfigurable
11881187Fictionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/fiction1/2/285/1177/1187/11881/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction
