Department of English

From Pride and Prejudice to Bridget Jones’ Diary, ‘chick lit’ has attracted both praise and scorn. The genre is valorized for its depiction of women’s perspectives and experiences yet derided for its predictability in following “the marriage plot.” In this course, we will explore popular fiction aimed at women. What are the components of this genre? Why is it so widespread and popular? How does ‘chick lit’ reflect and shape cultural beliefs about gender and sexuality? Possible texts, films, and TV shows may include: Pride and Prejudice, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Jane Eyre, Gone with the Wind, Little Women, Twilight, Fifty Shades of Grey, Sex in the City, Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Girls.