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| Semester | fall semester 2021 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Christian Hänggi (christian.haenggi@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | In his 1976 manifesto 'Investigative Poetry', US-American poet, musician, and countercultural figure Ed Sanders proposed "that poetry should again assume responsibility for the description of history." A quarter of a century later, he followed up with a multi-volume 'America: A History in Verse' in which he chronicles major events in US-American politics, culture, and technology in free verse, including aspects that textbook histories might shy away from. This literary research seminar introduces students to the rise of a superpower that still shapes and reshapes the course of the world. And it discusses the openings and limitations this poetic, often compassionate and personal, approach to historiography offers. |
| Learning objectives | Students will acquire an understanding of twentieth century US-American history and the nation's role in global politics to improve their skills of historical contextualization of literary texts. Students will be able to critically assess poetic treatments of historical facts and be able to apply the method on their own. |
| Bibliography | • Sanders, Ed. "Investigative Poetry". 1976. Dispatches Editions, 2018. • Sanders, Edward. "America: A History in Verse Vol. 1, 1900–1939". Black Sparrow Press, 2000. • Sanders, Edward. "America: A History in Verse Vol. 2, 1940–1961". Black Sparrow Press, 2000. • Sanders, Edward. "America: A History in Verse Vol. 3, 1962–1970". Black Sparrow Books, 2004. • Video of the Ed Sanders' keynote lecture/performance "The Ups and Downs of Hippie 1967–1969: Three Years in the Universe" at the University of Basel, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lsMw6mgiK8 Electronic excerpts from "Volumes 4 (1971–1985)" and "5 (1986–2000)" may also become part of the reading list (TBA). Students should have read "Investigative Poetry" by the first seminar session. Electronic copies of all "America: A History in Verse" volumes will be provided at a price to be determined by the author. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | MA and PhD students. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 23.09.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 30.09.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 07.10.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 14.10.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 21.10.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 28.10.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 04.11.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 11.11.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 18.11.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 25.11.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 02.12.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 09.12.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 16.12.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Thursday 23.12.2021 | 12.15-14.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Modules |
Modul: Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Literatur- und kulturwissenschaftliche Forschung (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Modul: Literaturgeschichte (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Modul: Research in Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Course preparation and active participation is mandatory and may be assessed throughout the semester. Students will be required to hold a presentation on a topic to be determined. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |