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| Semester | fall semester 2010 |
| Course frequency | Every 3rd fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Philipp Schweighauser (ph.schweighauser@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | When former U.S. President George W. Bush proclaimed, in 2006, that "the ideals that have inspired our history--freedom, democracy, and human dignity--are increasingly inspiring individuals and nations throughout the world," he reiterated a belief that was first put into words in 1630, by the Puritan spiritual diarist and historian John Winthrop: that America is a shining "city upon a hill," a beacon of freedom that is admired and imitated but also watched by the whole world. In 2008, presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama also tapped deep into the American past when he coined his campaign slogan "yes, we can," giving yet another twist to the can-do attitude celebrated in Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" (1771-1790). In this first part of my survey of American literary and cultural history, we will explore the origins of a multitude of topoi, beliefs, and myths that continue to shape how Americans see themselves today. Along the way, you will encounter Native American creation myths, Christopher Columbus's wonder and horror at the New World, the dissenting Puritan voice of Anne Hutchinson, J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's reflections on not only the American melting pot but also slavery, and the cross-dressing heroine of Tabitha Tenney's "Female Quixotism" (1801). |
| Learning objectives | You are introduced to a formative period of American literary and cultural history. |
| Bibliography | APART FROM THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE (SEE BELOW), YOU NEED TO BRING ALONG THE RELEVANT HANDOUT TO EACH SESSION. THE HANDOUT FOR THE FIRST SESSION IS AVAILABLE ON EVA NOW. PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE COURSE ON EVA (http://eva.unibas.ch/), DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT, PRINT IT, AND BRING IT ALONG TO THE FIRST SESSION. NOTE: WE HAVE A NEW LECTURE ROOM: HS 118. The seventh edition of Volume A(Beginnings to 1820) of Baym, Nina, gen. ed., "The Norton Anthology of American Literature". New York: W. W. Norton, 2007 needs to be ordered and purchased well before the beginning of the term (ISBN13: 978-0-393-92739-9). All students are required to bring their copy along to the first session, so please order early. 30 copies have been ordered at the "Labyrinth" bookstore. If you plan to attend more than one part of this four-part lecture course, it makes sense to buy all volumes (A-B + C-E)of "The Norton Anthology of American Literature" (ISBN 13: 978-0-393-92993-5 + ISBN 13: 978-0-393-92994-2). |
| Comments | Note that I am also offering a BA/MA seminar ("Early American Gothic, Sentimental, and Picaresque Novels", 26015-01) whose topic is closely related to this course. |
| Weblink | EVA server |
| Admission requirements | None |
| Course application | Not required |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Interphilologische Lehrveranstaltungen für die Slavistik (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: Modern German Literature) Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul English & American Literature (Master's degree subject: English) Modul Extending the View (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Focusing on the Discipline (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Learning about Literature and Culture (Sek-I-Fach: Englisch) Modul Learning about Literature and Culture (Ausbildung zur Lehrperson für die Sekundarstufe I) Modul Learning about Literature and Culture (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Neuere Deutsche Literaturwissenschaft I (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul Refining Skills in Literature and Culture (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Research Skills in English Linguistics or Literature (Master's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Written test (90 mins) toward the end of term |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, repetition counts |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Englisches Seminar |