230506 Rethinking America The American Essay (S) (WiSe 2025/2026)
Contents, comment
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The objective of the class is to explore the genre of the essay as self-reflexive, creative and critical expression. Essays in U.S. American culture represent an important medium to express critical reflections on cultural, literary, social and political developments in U.S. society and culture in the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st century. This class will take a historical approach covering a time span from colonial to contemporary times. Students will read and interpret selected essays by authors and thinkers like Douglas, Emerson, Hughes, Hurston, Walker, Sui Lin Far among others. Most texts will be taken From Lopate’s The Glorioust American Essay collection. The essays will provide food for thought and reflection, as we discuss crisis, change, contact zones and identity politics in (an extended) U.S. cultural context. Students will be required to engage with the selected essays in written and oral form.
Teaching staff
Dates ( Calendar view )
| Frequency | Weekday | Time | Format / Place | Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| weekly | Do | 16-18 | 16.10.2025-06.02.2026 |
Subject assignments
| Module | Course | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-ANG-AngPM3_a Profilmodul 3: American Studies | 3.3 Literature and Media | Student information | |
| - | Graded examination | Student information | |
| 23-ANG-Profil4 Profilmodul 4: Advanced British and American Studies | Profil4.2 British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
| Profil4.3 British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.
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- Last update basic details/teaching staff:
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Last update times:
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Last update rooms:
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester)
- seminar (S) / 2
- Language
- This lecture is taught in english
- Department
- Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies
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