Approaches to Contemporary American Culture 2: Developing Themes and Perspectives
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS1031 | American and Canadian Studies | 1 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- AMCS1031
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module aims to develop further some themes and perspectives encountered by students on Approaches to Contemporary American Culture 1 (AMCS1030). The emphasis will be on texts and cultural artefacts beyond those encountered in the other American Studies core modules. 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 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
Only available to Year 1 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students and to Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture per week for 7 weeks
- One 1-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Coursework 1 - 1,000 word document analysis
- 40% Coursework 2: Coursework 2 - 1,000 word document analysis
- 20% Participation: Seminar Participation
Assessed by end of spring 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
On completion of the module students should have acquired:
A) Knowledge & Understanding of:
- the relationship between key cultural forms, American history and current social and political issues;
- understanding of why particular cultural forms become a focus of controversy and debate at particular moments;
- understanding of a variety of critical approaches and how they might be applied in exploring the relationship between culture and society;
- understanding of a range of different cultural materials and forms.
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 online sources;
- ability to construct a coherent and considered argument which shows signs of independent thought;
- ability to contribute with confidence and insight to group discussion;
- the ability to organise and articulate ideas effectively in written and oral communication.
Conveners
- Dr Nicholas Heffernan