In an intriguing move for a university nestled in the conservative state of Arkansas, the University of Central Arkansas has introduced a unique offering in its English department—an interdisciplinary writing course titled “Queer Childhoods.” This course, as detailed in the university’s course directory, aims to provide students with a platform to delve into academic arguments and develop their skills in crafting papers that present well-founded arguments using scholarly sources.
Although the course description on the university’s website is somewhat broad, it does highlight the thematic nature of the curriculum. Instructors have the creative freedom to select topics and curate a set of interdisciplinary readings that complement the chosen theme. However, the specifics of the curriculum remain undisclosed, with no syllabus currently available.
Christine Case, who serves as a visiting assistant professor of English, is the instructor spearheading this course. Her academic background is deeply rooted in children’s and young adult literature, as evidenced by her faculty profile. She completed her Ph.D. in critical and cultural studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 2023. Her dissertation, intriguingly titled “Composite Bodies: Race, Gender, and Dis/ability in Fairy Tale Performance,” underscores her academic focus on complex cultural narratives.
The University of Central Arkansas, with its scenic campus pathways, continues to foster an environment where diverse and contemporary topics can be explored, reflecting a progressive approach in an otherwise traditionally conservative region. This course stands as a testament to the university’s commitment to academic diversity and exploration.
Christine Case, a visiting assistant professor of English, is listed as the course instructor. Her faculty profile page says she specializes in children’s and young adult literature. She earned her Ph.D. in critical and cultural studies from the University of Pittsburgh in 2023.
Her dissertation was titled “Composite Bodies: Race, Gender, and Dis/ability in Fairy Tale Performance.”
“This dissertation interrogates the ways in which racial, gendered, dis/abled, and technological modes of embodiment reimagine what fairy tale performances can signify and who they can include,” the dissertation begins. “Through a framework of composite bodies, I chart diverse representational possibilities made possible by the appearance and performance of certain bodies in fairytale landscapes, from the crip Disney Park Guest to the Black incarnation of the white Disney Princess.
A bear mascot stands next to a banner on the University of Central Arkansas campus. (University of Central Arkansas/Flikr)
Case said the dissertation was inspired by “queer of color critique and contemporary girlhood studies,” and that the research “centers interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches to performance, race, gender, and popular culture, particularly in US contexts.”
The University of Central Arkansas told Fox News Digital that it had audited more than 3,000 current courses in order to determine whether they run afoul of the state’s recently-enacted Arkansas Curriculum Content and Educational Standards for Schools (ACCESS) law.
A pathway, lawn and buildings on the University of Central Arkansas campus. (University of Central Arkansas/Flikr)
Certain parts of the law ban DEI and critical race theory ideology.
As a result, the school will no longer offer the course, according to a spokesperson.
“UCA has received no student complaints or concerns regarding this course,” the spokesperson said. “The university remains committed to maintaining academic rigor, transparency and compliance while continuing to provide students with a broad liberal arts education that develops writing, research and analytical skills essential for success in any field.”
