Approaches to Contemporary American Culture 1: An Introduction
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS1030 | American and Canadian Studies | 1 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- AMCS1030
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module aims to introduce students to some of the key facets of American culture across a broad historical range. The emphasis will be on texts and cultural artifacts beyond those encountered in the core modules on American Literature and American History. In this respect we are likely to focus on a variety of forms, which may include music, painting, cinema, television and various genres of writing. We will concentrate on important and influential cultural forms, demonstrating and exploring connections made across different time periods and, in particular, with developments in contemporary America. Ideally the module will help to open up ways for the students to move between different parts of the undergraduate programme, while also encouraging them to think critically about some of the assumptions that they bring to the subject.
Target Students
Available to Year 1 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students. Available to Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture per week for 6 weeks
- One 1-hour seminar per week for 11 weeks
Lectures will take place once every two weeks in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12
Assessment
- 80% Coursework: Coursework - 1,500 word essay
- 20% Participation: Seminar Participation
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
1) to introduce students to various key examples of/debates within American culture; 2) to introduce students to important themes and ideas in American Studies; 3) to introduce students to different cultural forms and encourage them to develop relevant critical approaches to them; 4) to provide case studies and methodologies for an interdisciplinary approach to American history and literature;5) to encourage students to think critically about different kinds of research materials; 6) to provide an intellectual bridge between American History and American Literature core modules; 7) to begin to introduce the students to some of the interdisciplinary approaches they will subsequently pursue in level 2 and level 3 modulesLearning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: On completion of the module students should have acquire:
A) Knowledge & Understanding of:
- understanding of different aspects of American history and culture;
- understanding of why particular cultural forms had such influence at particular moments;
- understanding of new critical approaches and how they might be applied;
- understanding of a range of different cultural materials
B) Intellectual Skills:
- ability to explain and interpret cultural objects in their social, political, or artistic context;
- ability to analyse objects and ideas from different disciplines and fields in relation to each other;
- ability to establish intellectual connections across different time periods
C) Professional and Transferable Skills:
- ability to carry out research and critically evaluate primary materials, including literary, visual, and digital sources;
- ability to construct a coherent and considered argument which shows signs of independent thought;
- contribute with confidence and insight to group discussion;
- ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form