Home | Major | Faculty | Courses | Programs | Careers
American Studies 202
Methods in American Studies
- Instructor:
- Ayesha Shariff, x3741, Wright Hall 116
- Description
-
In Methods in American Studies we will investigate a variety of
approaches to the study of American culture. Using the approaches as lenses
through which we examine an assortment of cultural texts (including film,
fiction, music, public art, television, theater, and photojournalism) we will
explore the process by which culture has been constructed and contested at
different points in the American past and present. We will evaluate the
strengths and weaknesses of various theoretical methods, and you will have an
opportunity to apply the approach(es) of your choice to a specific cultural
work.
Your presence and regular participation will ensure that our seminar will be a collaborative effort. We will share responsibility for facilitating discussion of the reading, listening and responding to each other as we work toward our goals:
- to examine the history and evolution of the field of American Studies
- to understand the role and use of theory in the field of American Studies
- to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical strategies
- to apply the theoretical approach(es) of your choice to a specific cultural text
4 credits - Texts
- Syllabus and Required Readings
- Optional Readings and Related Links
- Syllabus and Required Readings