L.008.32480 Key Concepts and Issues in American Studies

Lehrende: Vanessa Künnemann

Veranstaltungsart: Proseminar

Orga-Einheit: Anglistik/Amerikanistik

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Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 40

Voraussetzungen und Empfehlungen:
Introduction to Cultural Studies

Ansprechpartner:
For further information: vanessa.kuennemann@upb.de

Literatur:
Please purchase Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening (Penguin Classics; ISBN-10: 0142437328). Additional course material will be made available in a reader, which can be purchased at the uni copyshop at the beginning of the semester. During the semester, handouts will be uploaded to koaLA.

Kommentar:
What do we mean when thinking about 'America'? What influences, events, developments, and cultural trends have shaped the 'American' experience in the course of time? How have different groups in American society perceived 'their' country, how have they been affected by stereotypes and questions revolving around race, ethnicity, class, or gender in their lives? And how, in turn, have these groups impacted and changed notions of 'America' themselves?

In this class we will trace these questions and investigate the meaning of America in the framework of the discipline that has been institutionalized as 'American Studies.' The class provides an introduction to methods of interpretation and analysis, focusing on key concepts and issues of the field of US cultural history. We will discuss a variety of genres and text sorts – ranging from prose (Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening) to drama (David Henry Hwang's play M. Butterfly), poetry, and film – to approach the dynamics of 'America.'

Wichtige Hinweise:
If you preregister for this class in February or March but decide to drop out before the semester, please cancel your registration as soon as possible to give other students a chance to register. Thank you!