552.270 (15W) Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America

Wintersemester 2015/16

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
06.10.2015 13:00 - 14:30 HS C On Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Lecturer
LV Nummer Südostverbund ENL02001UL
Course title german Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America
Type Lecture
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 4.0
Registrations 122
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
Course begins on 13.10.2015

Time and place

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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

By way of hands-on lecture input and self-directed studying, students will practice and thus acquire critical/cultural/literary thinking skills that will help them develop a critical understanding and appreciation of American literature.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

Survey mode: dynamic lecture input, discussions (in class and on Moodle), and close readings of weekly reading assignments.

Conditions of admission

This class is team-taught by Dr. Stefan Rabitsch (stefan.rabitsch@aau.at) and Mr. Armin Lippitz, MA (armin.lippitz@aau.at). As a general rule, any email queries need to be sent to BOTH course instructors. !!! FIRST MEETING on October 13 !!! (team-taught, content: discussion of pragmatics, first contact with American literature, asking the 'important' questions)

Course content

What is American literature? This central, and most importantly, open-ended question will guide us through the semester as we will explore the many different shades of American literary geographies—and, as we will see, there are definitely more than fifty. As an introductory lecture, this class serves to provide students with the essential background to the diverse range of US-American literary production, covering a time span that is not easily confined to 200 or 400 years, respectively. Once again, the questions of what is American literature, where does it begin, who says so, and the latent implications of cultural imperialism inherent in them, will fuel much of the dynamically organized structure of the class. Literary texts, like any other cultural artifacts, can be comprehended, appreciated and/or problematized only when placed within their respective cultural and historical context(s) of production, dissemination, and consumption. The formal characteristics of individual American literary movements/genres only serve as a starting point since most emphasis will be placed on how these forms and their functions relate to changing geographic, historical, political, economic contexts which ultimately provide an avenue for understanding the continuities and changes that have shaped American identity to this very day. The lecturers have made it their goal to attend to both the dominant discourses of literary production vis-à-vis marginal(ized) literary voices, which, when viewed synoptically, coalesce into a diverse mosaic of texts that transcend the narrowly defined boundaries of what used to be labeled as the 'American literary canon' in the past.

Topics

  • What is American literature? (approaches, definitions, problematizing 'the canon')
  • The Colonial roots of American literature
  • Know your King James Bible, know the Puritans, understand US-American identity
  • The American Enlightenment and the 'revolutionary' texts that created the nation
  • Let's invent a national literature: American Romanticism
  • We've got some local color happening (regionalism & short stories)
  • Right in the 'Realism', and for the tougher ones: American Naturalism
  • Special focus #1: Native American literature(s)
  • Special focus #2: It doesn't get more American that this: The Western
  • Modernism: Why the “American Dream” failed and how to overcome a “Great Depression” and two World Wars
  • Alternative voices: “Harlem Renaissance”, “The Roaring 20s”, “The Jazz Age”
  • Contemporary American Literature: Postmodernism
  • Special focus #3: From poetry to music lyrics
  • Special focus #4: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s comics, an underrated, iconic medium

Keywords

literature studies, literary criticism, American literature, American history, American culture

Teaching objective

Students will actively get involved in reading across the American literary landscape, becoming attuned to the power and relevance of context(s) that will help them develop a critical understanding of the proverbial 'big picture' of American literature. This should provide them with a sound general basis for further studies in the American Studies strand offered by the department.

Prior knowledge expected

Technically, there are no requirements. Since this class is a survey of LITERATURE(S), students are directed and required to READ assigned weekly readings in advance and come to class ready to participate in informed discussions and share their opinions on topics covered in class. Familiarizing themselves with the assigned texts is a prerequisite for successfully completing the class since reading assignments are relevant material for the final exam.

Other materials

All relevant reading material will be made available to you in digital form on Moodle. EVERY student is directed & required to obtain and use these resources in order to successfully participate in class.

Literature

Reading packets will be provided in digital form on a weekly basis. There is no need to buy any books. Main course books: Bercovitch, Sacvan. 2004. The Cambridge History of American Literature. Cambridge: CUP. Bertens, Hans and Theo D’haen. 2014. American Literature: A History. New York: Routledge. Lauter, Paul. ed. 2010. A Companion to American Literature and Culture. Chichester: Blackwell. For each session, we will provide a list of 'suggested literature' that were used to prepare individual lectures along with 'additional material' that provides useful and helpful insights.

Intended learning outcomes

By way of hands-on lecture input and self-directed studying, students will practice and thus acquire critical/cultural/literary thinking skills that will help them develop a critical understanding and appreciation of American literature.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

Survey mode: dynamic lecture input, discussions (in class and on Moodle), and close readings of weekly reading assignments.

Conditions of admission

This class is team-taught by Dr. Stefan Rabitsch (stefan.rabitsch@aau.at) and Mr. Armin Lippitz, MA (armin.lippitz@aau.at). As a general rule, any email queries need to be sent to BOTH course instructors. !!! FIRST MEETING on October 13 !!! (team-taught, content: discussion of pragmatics, first contact with American literature, asking the 'important' questions)

Course content

What is American literature? This central, and most importantly, open-ended question will guide us through the semester as we will explore the many different shades of American literary geographies—and, as we will see, there are definitely more than fifty. As an introductory lecture, this class serves to provide students with the essential background to the diverse range of US-American literary production, covering a time span that is not easily confined to 200 or 400 years, respectively. Once again, the questions of what is American literature, where does it begin, who says so, and the latent implications of cultural imperialism inherent in them, will fuel much of the dynamically organized structure of the class. Literary texts, like any other cultural artifacts, can be comprehended, appreciated and/or problematized only when placed within their respective cultural and historical context(s) of production, dissemination, and consumption. The formal characteristics of individual American literary movements/genres only serve as a starting point since most emphasis will be placed on how these forms and their functions relate to changing geographic, historical, political, economic contexts which ultimately provide an avenue for understanding the continuities and changes that have shaped American identity to this very day. The lecturers have made it their goal to attend to both the dominant discourses of literary production vis-à-vis marginal(ized) literary voices, which, when viewed synoptically, coalesce into a diverse mosaic of texts that transcend the narrowly defined boundaries of what used to be labeled as the 'American literary canon' in the past.

Topics

  • What is American literature? (approaches, definitions, problematizing 'the canon')
  • The Colonial roots of American literature
  • Know your King James Bible, know the Puritans, understand US-American identity
  • The American Enlightenment and the 'revolutionary' texts that created the nation
  • Let's invent a national literature: American Romanticism
  • We've got some local color happening (regionalism & short stories)
  • Right in the 'Realism', and for the tougher ones: American Naturalism
  • Special focus #1: Native American literature(s)
  • Special focus #2: It doesn't get more American that this: The Western
  • Modernism: Why the “American Dream” failed and how to overcome a “Great Depression” and two World Wars
  • Alternative voices: “Harlem Renaissance”, “The Roaring 20s”, “The Jazz Age”
  • Contemporary American Literature: Postmodernism
  • Special focus #3: From poetry to music lyrics
  • Special focus #4: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s comics, an underrated, iconic medium

Keywords

literature studies, literary criticism, American literature, American history, American culture

Teaching objective

Students will actively get involved in reading across the American literary landscape, becoming attuned to the power and relevance of context(s) that will help them develop a critical understanding of the proverbial 'big picture' of American literature. This should provide them with a sound general basis for further studies in the American Studies strand offered by the department.

Prior knowledge expected

Technically, there are no requirements. Since this class is a survey of LITERATURE(S), students are directed and required to READ assigned weekly readings in advance and come to class ready to participate in informed discussions and share their opinions on topics covered in class. Familiarizing themselves with the assigned texts is a prerequisite for successfully completing the class since reading assignments are relevant material for the final exam.

Other materials

All relevant reading material will be made available to you in digital form on Moodle. EVERY student is directed & required to obtain and use these resources in order to successfully participate in class.

Literature

Reading packets will be provided in digital form on a weekly basis. There is no need to buy any books. Main course books: Bercovitch, Sacvan. 2004. The Cambridge History of American Literature. Cambridge: CUP. Bertens, Hans and Theo D’haen. 2014. American Literature: A History. New York: Routledge. Lauter, Paul. ed. 2010. A Companion to American Literature and Culture. Chichester: Blackwell. For each session, we will provide a list of 'suggested literature' that were used to prepare individual lectures along with 'additional material' that provides useful and helpful insights.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination topic(s)

The exam will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions (200-300 words). The exam will be structured along the main sections of the lecture.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

A written/electronic exam (90 minutes, secure exam environment: https://elearning.aau.at/en/support/#spu)

Examination topic(s)

The exam will consist of multiple choice questions and short answer questions (200-300 words). The exam will be structured along the main sections of the lecture.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

A written/electronic exam (90 minutes, secure exam environment: https://elearning.aau.at/en/support/#spu)

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Bachelor's degree programme Applied Cultural Studies (SKZ: 642, Version: 09W.3)
    • Subject: Gebundene Wahlfächer (Compulsory elective)
      • Module: Wahlfachmodul Cultural Studies
        • Wahlfachmodul Cultural Studies ( 6.0h XX / 12.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Bachelor-Lehramtsstudium Bachelor Unterrichtsfach Englisch (SKZ: 407, Version: 15W.2)
    • Subject: Anglophone Literary Studies II: Historical Surveys, Terminology and Practice of Interpretation (Compulsory subject)
      • ENL.002 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America ( 2.0h VO / 3.0 ECTS)
        • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 3.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 3., 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
  • Teacher training programme English (Secondary School Teacher Accreditation) (SKZ: 344, Version: 04W.7)
    • Stage one
      • Subject: Culture Studies (Compulsory subject)
        • Survey of Anglophone Cultures II ( 2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 15W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Grund- und Aufbaustudium Literature (Compulsory subject)
      • Module: Aufbaustudium Literature
        • 5.4 Survey of Anglophone Literatures – Focus America ( 0.0h VO / 3.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 3.0 ECTS)
            Absolvierung im 3. Semester empfohlen
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 10W.3)
    • Subject: Studieneingangs- und Orientierungsphase (Compulsory subject)
      • Introduction to Culture ( 2.0h PK / 5.0 ECTS)
        • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 2. Semester empfohlen
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 10W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Aufbaustudium (ab 11W) (Compulsory subject)
      • Module: Culture (ab 11W)
        • Introduction to Culture ( 2.0h PK / 5.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 5.0 ECTS)
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 10W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Aufbaustudium (ab 11W) (Compulsory subject)
      • Module: Literature (ab 11W)
        • Survey of Anglophone Literatures ( 2.0h KU, VO / 4.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 10W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Aufbaustudium (Compulsory subject)
      • Module: Literature
        • Survey of Anglophone Literatures ( 2.0h KU / 4.0 ECTS)
          • 552.270 Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
            Absolvierung im 3. Semester empfohlen

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

Wintersemester 2023/24
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2022/23
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2021/22
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2020/21
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2019/20
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2018/19
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2017/18
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2016/17
  • 552.270 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures: Focus America (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2015
  • 551.217 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures b (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2013/14
  • 551.216 VO Survey of Anglophone Literatures (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2013
  • 551.216 KU Survey of Anglophone Literatures (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)