230605 Introduction to American Civilization (Culture Studies) (S) (WiSe 2007/2008)

About

This course is designed to introduce students to the topics and methods of American culture studies.

What exactly is "American"? And what does it mean to do "American Studies"?
The course draws on the interdisciplinary interpretative frameworks of international American culture studies to examine the multiple ways in which "American" has been defined and interpreted. Focusing mainly on the period from WW2 to the present, we will deal with issues like identity, migration and social justice. Class materials include fiction, film, photography, historical essays, oral histories, and autobiography.

Course Objectives

This course aims to

• provide an interdisciplinary framework for the study of US American cultures.
• promote individual inquiry and collaborative interaction and to nurture critical thinking skills.
• focus on the analysis of events, movements, groups, and individuals who have shaped and continue to shape the American cultural past and present.

Requirements
Regular attendance, please. In addition, class participation is expected in terms of discussing readings, listening actively, sharing ideas, working collaboratively, and preparing a presentation/workshop in small groups.

Readings
Readings in course packet from
Horwitz, American Studies Anthology
Rudnick, American Identities
and online sources