North American Regions

Code

AMCS2054

School

American and Canadian Studies

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This module will deploy the concept of "region" to explore key North American texts - primarily drawn from the spheres of film, television and literature. The aim will be to situate texts in often overlooked sub-national and transnational contexts as a means of deepening understanding of both the text (s) and specific locales under scrutiny as well as the concept of "region" more generally. The notion of the "regional" will be applied expansively as well as conventionally to incorporate everything from the urban to the suburban/exurban; border territories; immigrant communities and transnational outlets for expressions of North American culture and values. Possible areas of study may include the American South; "mountain" people; Hispanic-America; Indigenous Peoples; Texas; Chicago; New Orleans; California; and the transnational impact of extensive US Military occupations (post-war Japan; South Vietnam; C21st Iraq).

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 2000 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

Only available to Year 2 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students and to Liberal Arts students.

Classes

• One 2-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks
• One 2-hour workshop per week for 12 weeks

Assessment

• 40% Coursework: 2000-word essay
• 20% Participation
• 40% Exam (2-hour)

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of key cultural texts and different conceptions of the term region;

• close analysis of primary source texts; knowledge and interpretation of historical and cultural contexts;
• engagement with theoretical frameworks within American and Canadian Studies;
• cultivation of comprehension and evaluation skills (through individual oral seminar contributions;
• individual and/or group presentations;
• and written work in essays and examinations.

This module will provide a broad foundation of region-specific knowledge for the understanding of cultural forms and specific cultural texts. In addition text-derived knowledge will be deployed to further understanding of North American regional contexts. This will be co-ordinated with study in American social, political, literary, and economic history and will also provide a solid foundation for more advanced work, including dissertation writing, in topics of American history, philosophy, social theory, literature, and culture.

Intellectual skills:

• Students will develop skills in close reading and analysis;
• contextualization and identification of key region-related themes;
• the ability to present and refine their interpretations and arguments in both oral and written form (in seminars, essays examinations).

In their efforts to think about the ways that North Americans have represented and understood regional cultures they will also be required to re-conceptualise the disciplines of American and Canadian Studies. They will also be encouraged to make frequent disciplinary and interdisciplinary connections to their first year core modules.

Professional and transferrable skills:

• This module will facilitate the development of multiple transferrable skills, including but not limited to reading and comprehension, the development of analytical and evaluative skills;
• the refinement of verbal and written expression;
• critical thought, and the cultivation of presentation skills.

Conveners

• Dr Ruth Maxey