North American Literature and Culture from 1800s to the Present - MA Seminar 1 3301-LAS1POCH
First semester.
The seminar program prepares students for independent research at the master’s level, developing their critical thinking skills and ability to write about American culture, society, and media from both historical and contemporary perspectives. As a result, students will be equipped to write a master’s thesis analyzing selected English-language literary or cultural texts from the North American context.
The seminar introduces methodologies and critical approaches essential for advanced literary, cultural, and film analysis, including foundational concepts from film studies. The theoretical texts covered will represent a range of critical perspectives such as feminism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, new historicism, ecocriticism, and African American criticism.
Students’ research projects may focus on a chosen period of American culture from the early nineteenth century to the present day. They may also include texts that fall outside the traditional canon of literature and film. Special consideration will be given to projects addressing issues of gender, race, social class, and sexuality, as well as those exploring contemporary African American fiction, addiction studies, boredom studies, or the revision of pastoral themes.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The graduate has in-depth familiarity with
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 as applied in American studies
K_W04 concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright
K_W05 economic, legal, ethical and other conditions of the various professional activities related to the field of American studies
The graduate is able to
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 in the field of American studies
K_U03 use structures, lexis and language conventions appropriate to the communicative situation (e.g. holding a public debate, giving an academic presentation, etc.) in spoken and written English at the minimum level C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
K_U04 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law
K_U05 apply the knowledge of economic, legal, ethical and other conditions of various professional activities related to American studies
K_U07 use modern technology to acquire knowledge and communicate through a variety of communication channels and techniques
K_U09 design their own development path and guide others in so doing
The graduate is ready to
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
Assessment criteria
Regular work and timely completion of individual written assignments and chapters.
3 absences are allowed.
Term paper.
Bibliography
The readings are selected individually, depending on the seminar edition and the students’ interests. The core general sources include:
The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.
D. H. Richter (ed.), The Critical Tradition.
John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction.
Raymond Williams, Marxism and Literature.
Michel Foucault & Paul Rabinow, The Foucault Reader
Robyn R. Warhol, Feminisms: An Anthology of Literary Theory and Criticism.
Roland Barthes, Mythologies.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: