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Veranstaltungen
im Sommersemester 2019
Lehrangebot im
Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik, Martin-Luther-Universität
Halle-Wittenberg
Aufbaumodul
Kulturwissenschaft 1 / I (Angloamerikanische Geschichte)
"We Are Better Than This" –
Searching for Values in American Culture and Politics
Do, 8:00 - 12:00, Adam-Kuckhoff-Str.
35, SR2 |
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In his editorial
for the February 11/18, 2019, issue of The Nation, journalist and
author John Nichols wrote that, "the first two years of [President]
Trump’s tenure in the White House have upended all the norms
of American politics and governing, creating not only chaos but
a sense of foreboding about the stability of the country."
He went on to say that the political development that has taken
place since Trump's inauguration has revealed "deep vulnerabilities
of the American experiment."* Previous to Nichols's verdict,
two former presidents used the occasion of senator John McCain's
memorial service to assert that the deep divisions in American politics
were not an accurate reflection of the country's true nature. "We
are better than this," George W. Bush said in his eulogy, "America
is better than this."**
Taking its cue from this determined insistence
that the current image of the United States is not an accurate reflection
of its national character, this class will take a historical perspective
to explore what might be seen as the foundational values of a nation,
often called the "oldest democracy in the world," that
originated from the famous belief that "all men are created
equal." Since the time of the Declaration of Independence,
and perhaps even before that, the United States of America has seen
itself as an exceptional nation, different from – and better
than – other countries. By examining primary documents, including
presidential speeches, legislative acts, letters, essays, as well
as research literature, this class will familiarize students with
a central aspect of American history and culture and stimulate reflection
on the current state of affairs in American political and cultural
life.
Students interested in signing up for this
class must be prepared to participate actively in class and to commit
themselves to weekly reading and writing assignments. Reading material
will be made available in the course of the semester.
*
John Nichols. "Trump at Two." The Nation 11 Feb
2018, 2019: 3. Print.
** Peter Baker. "In McCain Memorial Service, Two Presidents
Offer Tribute, and a Contrast to Trump." New York Times
1 Sept 2019.
Please
use Stud.IP
to register for this class. ILIAS will be used as an online communications
platform during the semester. Make sure that you have access to
it, and enroll as soon as this specific webspace has been opened
(look under "Lernobjekte").
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Vertiefungsmodul:
Amerikanistik Literatur II
Food in American Culture
Di, 18:00 - 20:00, Adam-Kuckhoff-Str.
35, SR 2 |
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is probably fair to say that many people would find it hard to express
enthusiasm about food in America. The ubiquitous images of fast food
in advertizing and popular culture and the celebration of the hamburger
as the "all-American meal" are so powerful that they overshadow
most other aspects of food culture in the United States. In reality,
however, food in American culture is a large and complex matter, and
anyone who is willing to approach the subject with an open mind is
likely to gain surprising insights into American culture in general.
This course will offer participants an opportunity to study, analyze,
and understand the various aspects that are a part of the cultural
debate about food in the United States. Students
interested in signing up for this class must be prepared to participate
actively in class and to commit themselves to weekly reading and
writing assignments. To receive full credit for this class (5 CP),
students will have to produce a "Hausarbeit." Students
are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves in advance with
the general aspects of this subject. Study material will be made
available in the course of the semester.
Please
use Stud.IP
to register for this class. ILIAS will be used as an online communications
platform during the semester. Make sure that you have access to
it, and enroll as soon as this specific webspace has been opened
(look under "Lernobjekte"). |
Vertiefungsmodul:
Kulturwissenschaft I
Satirical Voices in American Culture
Do, 12:00 - 14:00, Seminarraum
10 (Raum 2.37) [EA 26-27] |
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Fast
food ranks high on the list of features that people worldwide associate
with American culture. Resulting from assembly-line techniques and
rigid standardization, phenomenally successful and perfectly adapted
to America's car culture, it embodies many elements that are regarded
as a characteristically "American." The rise of fast food
can be seen as one of America's entrepreneurial feats, a vivid illustration
of the economic power of a business idea that has appealed to customers
all over the world.
The promise of cheap food, familiar taste, and consistent quality,
however, rests on a complex network of problematic economic and
social practices. These are problems that go beyond an individual's
troubling suspicion that eating fast food may not be healthy. As
Eric Schlosser shows in his book Fast Food Nation, an intensive
look at the fast-food industry reveals how this particular aspect
of American food culture affects the lives of American citizens
in a surprising and sometimes shocking variety of ways. His publication
is an impressive study that brings to light how a seemingly innocuous
feature of American popular culture has an intensive impact on America's
political, social, and cultural life.
Based on an intensive reading of Fast Food Nation, this class will
focus on aspects that have lost nothing of their relevance since
the book first appeared in 2001. They include economic perspectives,
health issues, environmental problems, and questions of workers
rights.
Prospective participants are expected to have purchased and read
a copy of Fast Food Nation 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. More information about the specific requirements
will be announced in the first session.
Please
use Stud.IP
to register for this class. ILIAS will be used as an online
communications platform during the semester. Make sure that you
have access to it, and enroll as soon as this specific webspace
has been opened (look under "Lernobjekte").
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Forschungskolloquium
Angloamerikanische Kulturwissenschaft / Literaturwissenschaft
Forschungskolloquium Amerikanistik:
Literatur und Kultur
Di, 16:00 - 18:00, Adam-Kuckhoff-Straße
35, SR 3.04 |
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seminar provides students working on their final thesis with a forum
to present their research plans, report on the progress of their
work, and discuss research-related questions relevant to their theses.
The class aims at supporting students in developing their initial
ideas, improving the design of their projects, and exploring further
ramifications of their respective topics. The format chosen for
this class creates opportunities to exchange ideas with other students
and faculty members, and allows students to practice their presentation
skills in a friendly and supportive academic setting. Further details
will be announced during the first session.
Please
use Stud.IP
to register for this class.
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