Potential participants should be aware that this course requires a high level of commitment and active participation. This includes independent research in the library, particularly the use of its resources. Weekly sessions are based on completing extensive reading and writing assignments. The reading workload pages per week may range from 15 to 30 pages. Students should understand that this class is not a lecture; rather, it is a seminar designed for active engagement and discussion of the information and ideas they have prepared specifically for each class session. This format relies on the presence of participants who have thoroughly prepared, enabling them to contribute effectively within this academic context. Regular attendance is expected, and students must ensure that their extracurricular activities do not interfere with their ability to dedicate adequate time to this course.
Studienleistung / Modulleistung
Students can earn two types of credit in this class:
1) A "Studienleistung" is recorded in the university's computer system
when all tasks set during the lecture period have been completed and
written assignments have been submitted in full, on time and in good
quality.
2) Students receive credit for a "Modulleistung" upon successfully
completing the "Modulabschlussprüfung". Detailed instructions on the
nature of the final exam will be given at an appropriate time during
the semester.
Please use Stud.IP to register for this class
Although few people think of the USA in terms of its relationship to environmental and nature issues, the country has a rich tradition of writing on the subject. This class will explore a selection of influential texts that address a variety of problems falling within this field. Through close readings and critical analysis, students will explore how literature expresses attitudes towards nature, ecology, and humanity's relationship with the environment. In this way, they will uncover the interconnectedness between literature and environmental thinking, gaining insights into pressing ecological concerns and the evolving literary responses to them. The class will thus provide opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of environmental writing while practicing and refining their literary analysis skills.
Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft I
Major Speeches in American History and Culture
Do, 8:15 - 9:45 | Adam-Kuckhoff-Str. 35, SR3
Oratory and speechmaking have played an important role in American history and culture. They have been instrumental in mobilizing citizens, shaping national identity, reflecting cultural struggles, and advocating for social change. This class will explore pivotal moments in American history and culture through the analysis of major speeches. Students will engage in critical examination and discussion of selected texts to understand the rhetorical power of influential figures, assessing their impact on societal, political, and cultural landscapes. In this way, they will gain a more expansive view of the role of public oral communication in shaping crucial moments in American history.
Vertiefungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft I
From the Revolution to Noam Chomsky - Portraits of Prominent American Dissenters and Their Causes
Di, 16:15 - 17:45 | Adam-Kuckhoff-Str. 35, SR3
This class offers opportunities for an in-depth exploration of dissent in American history. It will examine key figures from the revolutionary era to modern times, analyzing their ideologies, methods, and societal impacts. Students will examine the lives of individuals such as Thomas Paine, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr., Noam Chomsky, and others. Through critical analysis of primary sources and scholarly texts, they will gain insight into the diverse movements for social change in the United States, exploring themes of justice, equality, and the struggle against oppression.
Vertiefungsmodul (VM) Amerikanistik Literatur II |VM Kulturwissenschaft III | VM Kulturwissenschaft IV
Transnational Explorations of American Literature: Mark Twain in a German Language Context
Do, 12:15 - 13:45 | Hörsaal XIV a/b (144) [Löw]
In general, the study of a particular literature is concerned with its existence in the area in which it originated. American literature is therefore usually read and understood in the context of the USA. However, for a literature that attracts worldwide attention and is therefore also read in other contexts, the question arises as to what effects it has when American texts are read outside their original national context.
This seminar focuses on selected texts by the popular writer Mark Twain, whose works have been available in German for over 150 years. Through the lens of Twain's works, the course will explore what happens when texts are transported into a different cultural environment. Students will examine how translation affects the meaning of texts, reflect on the importance of cultural knowledge and ponder the inherent challenges of intercultural comprehension. With this particular approach, the class will raise questions about methodological issues, the stability of literary texts, and the role they play in intercultural understanding.