230535 Introduction to British Civilization (S) (SoSe 2008)

The course will familiarize you with contemporary Britain and provide you with a basis for your further work on English literature and cultural studies, introducing you to key developments in British society, politics, and cultures. This will include an introduction to the regions of Britain; to the four nations of the islands; to Britain's ethnic minorities and to the different sources of people's cultural identities. We will find out what Britain produces, how its wealth is distributed, how it is ruled, how public opinion is formed, how young people are educated, what the British believe, how they feed and entertain themselves, how they relate to their neighbours.

In studying these issues, you will read extensively, do internet research, interpret figures, discuss and analyse texts. Suggested topics for your own studies: the situation of young people in Britain and Germany; the situation of women in both countries; how British people see themselves and how others see them; the historically fraught relations between the Germans and the British; British television programmes on German TV; debates on multiculturalism and integration.

Recommended literature:

Christopher, David P., British Culture: An Introduction, London 1999
McDowall, David, Britian in Close-Up: an In-Depth Study of Contemporary Britain, London, 1999, rpt 2001.
Oakland, John, British Civilization: An Introduction, London, (5th ed.) 2002, rpt 04
Storry, Mike & Childs, Peter (eds), British Cultural Identities, London, (2nd ed.) 2002, rpt 05