African American History and Culture

Code

AMCS2052

School

American and Canadian Studies

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This module seeks to examine African American history and culture from slavery to the present through a series of case studies that highlight forms of cultural advocacy and resistance and thus indicate how African Americans have sustained themselves individually and collectively within a racist, yet liberal society. These will illustrate the resilience of African American culture via music, literature, art and material culture. Examples may include the persistence of African elements in slave culture, the emergence of new artistic forms in art, religion and music during the segregation era, and the range and complexity of African American engagement with US public culture since the 1960s across art, literature and popular culture.  

"Students who need to complete one or more components of assessment during the summer, due to extenuating circumstances or for progression purposes, will be required to submit one essay of 2,000 words. This form of assessment has been set in order to accommodate early submission deadlines for candidates undertaking a year of study abroad, who will not be resident in Nottingham during the usual summer examination period. The essay will be due on the third Wednesday in July."

Target Students

Available to Year 2 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students and Liberal Arts students. Available to exchange students hosted by the School of CLAS.

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

• 20% Coursework 1: Coursework 1 - (900 - 1,000 word cultural source analysis)
• 60% Coursework 2: Coursework 2 - (2,300 - 2,500 word coursework essay)
• 20% Participation: Participation - Seminar participation

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

• To understand concepts of cultural hegemony and resistance, multiculturalism and assimilation, racism, race consciousness and nationalism

Intellectual skills:

• to develop a critical vocabulary for the critical examination of artistic and cultural forms and to develop the ability to analyse culture across a wide range of materials.

Professional and transferable skills:

• To develop students analytical and critical skills and their appreciation of creativity and innovation;
• to develop their oral and written communication skills

Conveners

• Dr Matthew Pethers