American Literature and Culture 2: Since 1940
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS1011 | American and Canadian Studies | 1 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- AMCS1011
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This is an introductory survey of major American literature and culture since 1940. It explores a wide range of twentieth and twenty-first century American literary writers. The module addresses those questions about the nature of the American ‘canon’ raised by successive generations of critics. It will also explore related developments in late twentieth and early twenty-first century visual culture and music. It is seen as a `core' module, which will give the grounding for further study of American literature and culture.
Target Students
Available to Year 1 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students and Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 1-hour lecture per week for 12 weeks
- One 2-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks
The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks.
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Coursework 1 - 1,500 word essay
- 40% Coursework 2: Coursework 2 - 1,500 word essay
- 20% Participation: Participation
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
To provide students beginning their American Studies degree and students from other disciplines who have an interest in American literature and culture with an introduction to the development of American Studies as an inter-multidisciplinary sphere of area studies. To introduce students to ways of dealing with literary and cultural material critically, using both textual and contextual approaches.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding of:
• Fundamental aspects and underlying themes of, as well as the major trends in, American literature and culture since 1940
Intellectual Skills
• The ability to analyse literary and other cultural texts
• The ability to relate literary and other texts to their larger historical and cultural context
• The ability to build a compelling and textually-based argument
Professional and Transferable Skills
• Reflecting on and using feedback on written work
• Development of professional written and oral communication skills