American Culture in the 20th Century 3301-2ST-LK-KON002
The meetings will focus on the culture, society and politics of the US in the 20th century from the progressive age. They will discuss the most important events that shaped the culture of the US, including the roaring 20s, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the social tensions of the 1950s and 1960s (including the Civil Rights movement), the crises of the 1970s, and the rise of neoliberal capitalism. The remainder of the classes will focus on texts that illustrate some aspects of the aforementioned issues. These texts will be selected in consultation with the students. If no texts are chosen by the students, the ones discussed will be Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle, Phillip Roth’s American Pastoral, and Octavia E. Butler’s Parable duology.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Learning outcomes
K_W01 advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to the state of the art in the disciplines of literary studies and culture and region studies in the context of the United States in the 20th century
K_U01 apply the advanced terminology, theories and research methods of literary studies and culture and religion studies to solve complex and original research problems associated with the USA in the 20th century
K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources
K_K02 recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems; consult experts when required
*** Applies to students who began their studies in the year 2022/2023 ***
Knowledge
Students will be able to:
K_W01 Characterize on an advanced level the principles of research design in literary and culture studies in the context of the United States in the 20th century with special focus on the application of methods and tools in formulating research problems
K_W02 Characterise economic, legal and other factors relevant for professional approaches to literature and culture
Abilities
Students will be able to:
K_U01 Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to literary studies and American cultural studies;
K_U02 Apply advanced research methodology within literary/culture and American studies, respecting ethical norms and copyright law
Social competences
Students will be ready to:
K_K03 Take responsibility for performing one’s professional duties, with due respect for the work of others, obey and develop the ethical norms in professional and academic settings related to the disciplines included on the curriculum of English studies
Assessment criteria
oral exam
Bibliography
Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Sower. Headline, 2014.
Butler, Octavia E. Parable of the Talents. Headline, 2014.
Halberstam, David. The Fifties. Ballantine Books, 1994.
Klosterman, Chuck. The Nineties. Penguin, 2022.
Klosterman, Chuck. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto. Faber and Faber, 2008.
Leitch, Vincent B. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Norton, 2001.
Kyvig, David E. Daily life in the United States 1920-1940. Ivan Dee, 2002.
Marwick, Arthur. The Sixties. OUP, 1998
Patterson, James T. Grand Expectations. OUP, 1997.
Roth, Philip. American Pastoral. Houghton Mifflin: 1997.
Vonnegut, Kurt. Cat’s Cradle. Rosetta Books, 2010.
Different texts for analysis may be chosen depending on the student’s research interests.