Back
| Semester | spring semester 2018 |
| Course frequency | Every 2nd spring 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 | The seventh, eighth or ninth edition of Volume A (Beginnings to 1820) of Baym, Nina, gen. ed., "The Norton Anthology of American Literature". New York: W. W. Norton needs to be ordered and purchased well before the beginning of the term. All students are required to bring their copy along to the first session, so please order early. Copies are available 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". You also need to bring along the handouts for each session, INCLUDING THE FIRST. They are available on ADAM. |
| Comments | The lecture slides are made available on ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | None |
| Course application | Enrol on MOnA. |
| 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 Nordistik (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Interphilologische Lehrveranstaltungen für die Slavistik (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Interphilologisches Angebot: Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Advanced Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: Modern German Literature (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: German Literature (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul English & American Literature (Master's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Extending the View (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Focusing on the Discipline (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Learning about Literature and Culture (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Literaturgeschichte (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Modul Neuere Deutsche Literaturwissenschaft I (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Refining Skills in Literature and Culture (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) Modul Research Skills in English Linguistics or Literature (Master's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) |
| 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 | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |