How does a country spanning a continent with a diverse population of many racial, ethnic, and religious origins and orientations function as a single nation? What beliefs, values and ideas bind the people together? What differences, divisions and tensions contribute to strife and polarization? How are internal developments and global forces shaping the image of the United States and its role in the world? All of these questions are relevant to understanding the culture(s) of the United States. This course will examine some of the ideological underpinnings, historical influences and cultural institutions that contribute to the way Americans live their lives and see themselves. These include the structure of government, political ideologies, religious heritage, immigration patterns, race relations, education system and cultural geography. We will explore the notion of "American exceptionalism" and ask if and to what extent such a concept illuminates our understanding of American culture.
You should have completed BM 1-3 before taking this course.
American Civilization: An Introduction
by David Mauk and John Oakland
Sixth edition 2013
Additional material will be provided in class or sent to students via e-mail.
Rhythmus | Tag | Uhrzeit | Format / Ort | Zeitraum |
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Modul | Veranstaltung | Leistungen | |
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23-ANG-AngPM3 Profilmodul 3: American Studies | PM 3. 2 Social and Cultural Studies: US America | Studienleistung
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Studieninformation |
23-ANG-AngPM3.1 Profilmodul 3.1: American Studies | 3.1.2 Social and Cultural Studies: US America | Studienleistung
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Studieninformation |
- | benotete Prüfungsleistung | Studieninformation |
Die verbindlichen Modulbeschreibungen enthalten weitere Informationen, auch zu den "Leistungen" und ihren Anforderungen. Sind mehrere "Leistungsformen" möglich, entscheiden die jeweiligen Lehrenden darüber.
Studiengang/-angebot | Gültigkeit | Variante | Untergliederung | Status | Sem. | LP | |
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Anglistik: British and American Studies / Bachelor | (Enrollment until SoSe 2011) | Kern- und Nebenfach | BaAngBM4 | 2. 3. | 3 | ||
Anglistik: British and American Studies / Master of Education | (Enrollment until SoSe 2014) | BaAngBM4 | 2. 3. | 3 | |||
Anglistik: British and American Studies (GHR) / Master of Education | (Enrollment until SoSe 2014) | BaAngBM4 | 1. 2. | 3 | |||
Studieren ab 50 |
There will be assigned readings in the textbook (see below) and other reading material distributed in class or made available online. But to absorb and understand the core content of this course, you will also need to be present for class discussions. Class time will NOT be limited to summarising what is contained in the reading, but will present and explore concepts that will place the reading in context and explore its implications for understanding how culture works in the U.S.A. Two in-class written exercises (total up to 3,600 words in length) will constitute the required Studienleistung for the course and will give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned. The module PM3 on American Studies requires one term paper or other project, which may be done in connection with this course.