Veranstaltungen im Wintersemester 2008/09

For quite some time now “Cultural Studies” has been an intriguing area of academic activity and is coming to be recognized as an important field of study in English departments and elsewhere. This course is intended to introduce students in the B.A. program to key concepts in cultural studies and familiarize them with the social and theoretical histories and contexts of the field. Study material will be made available by the beginning of term.

For a “Studiennachweis” and to complete the module, students have to pass a final written test comprising the three mandatory introductory courses, and attend one of the tutorials regularly. Prospective participants must be prepared to participate actively and to commit themselves to weekly reading and writing assignments. To register for this class, please go to http://www.ovgu.de/hkersten and use the link to the Moodle online forum.

When Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat” appeared in movie theaters in 2006, audiences were divided over the question of whether the adventures of Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev were objectionable because of what appeared to be blatant cultural and regional stereotypes or whether the film deserved to be celebrated as an intelligent, if pitiless, social satire. Regardless of whether one enjoys watching the film or not, this curious road movie offers a broad range of topics to be discussed in an academic context. Based on a detailed analysis of the film, this course will address a variety of issues, covering questions of cultural diversity, intercultural communication, political correctness, and other related topics.

Prospective participants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with the general aspects of this topic. They must be prepared to participate actively and to commit themselves to weekly reading and writing assignments. It will be necessary for students to participate in film viewings outside of regular class hours. Course material will be made available by the beginning of term. Check my web pages for updated information. To register for this class, please go to http://www.ovgu.de/hkersten and use the link to the Moodle online forum.

In a world in which international contacts have become commonplace, the question of how people can interact and communicate across cultural boundaries has become more and more relevant. The challenges, problems, and promises inherent in cultural diversity have for a long time been a basic experience for people living on North American soil: From the early encounters between European explorers and native inhabitants to the coexistence of ethnic groups in the United States to the involvement of the United States in world affairs, issues of interculturality have for a long time had both a domestic and an international dimension in North America. It is the purpose of this class to study relevant examples of these encounters and to develop an understanding of the fundamental issues involved in these intercultural negotiations. Reading material will be made available by the beginning of term. Look for updated information on my web pages.

Prospective participants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with the general aspects of this subject. They must be prepared to participate actively in class and to commit themselves to weekly reading and writing assignments. Check my web pages for updated information To register for this class, please go to http://www.ovgu.de/hkersten and use the link to the Moodle online forum.

In the current debates about carbon dioxide emissions and climate change, critics have suggested that the solution to the problem may not lie in searching for technological fixes but in making significant changes in our lifestyle. What such changes might look like is the topic of Ernest Callenbach’s 1975 novel Ecotopia: The Notebook and Reports of William Weston. It is the goal of this class to study the central ideas set forth in this novel and to place it within the larger context of American environmental writing.

Prospective participants are expected to have purchased a copy of the book and to have read the novel by the beginning of term. They are also strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with the general aspects of this subject. They must be prepared to participate actively in class and to commit themselves to weekly reading and writing assignments. Additional course material will be made available by the beginning of term. Check my web pages for updated information. To register for this class, please go to http://www.ovgu.de/hkersten and use the link to the Moodle online forum.