Anglo-American Culture and Civilization

Introduction to American Studies. At the end of the course, students will be aware of the founding myths of American culture through their representations in popular media and literature. They will also be aware of how those myths are nowadays resisted by the many communities of the American mosaic who challenge the obliteration of history inherent in the ideological process of myth creation.

Lectures and class discussion of the assignments given after each new presentation of an archetypal narrative. The assigned readings will be available on Studium.

Knowledge (Contents)

American Studies: Theories, methods and ideas. Evolution of the discipline in relation to literary history and Cultural Studies. The national myths (Among others: Colombo, Pocahontas, the Pilgrim Fathers, Independence and Democracy, the Frontier, the Melting Pot, the Self -Made Man).

Know-how (Skills)

Vision and revision of the national myths via the comparative analysis of their representations through history and different media.

All students

1) H. Paul, The Myths that Made America. An Introduction to American Studies, Bielefeld, transcript, 2014 (pp. 43-410)

2) An anthology of literary texts (available on Studium in .pdf format)

3) An anthology of popular and mass-media versions of the American myths (files and links on Studium).

Students who cannot/do not attend the course

Additional readings (available on Studium in .pdf format):

4) J. C. Rowe, “Introduction”, in A Concise Companion to American Studies, Malden, Blackwell, 2010, pp. 1-16.

5) J. L. Miller, “American Languages”, in A Concise Companion to American Studies, cit., pp. 124-150.

Briefing Note on Copyright

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied. For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright). All the books listed in the programs, when not in the Library, will be made available online.