LFU:online

Department of American Studies Department of American Studies

Univ.-Prof. i. R. Mag. Dr. Gudrun Grabher Univ.-Prof. i. R. Mag. Dr. Gudrun Grabher

610002

First Priorities and Last Lectures: Americans’ Search for Wisdom and Happiness

SE 2

3,5

weekly

not applicable

English

Americans are a people much concerned with dreams, rainbows, wisdom, and happiness. The right to pursue happiness is even one of the inalienable rights of the American citizen guaranteed by the Constitution. In this seminar we will look at various texts — from the early times to the present, classical as well as popular — in which Americans express their thoughts and philosophies about what is most significant and meaningful in their lives. The major goal of the seminar will be to investigate the cultural, historical, and religious reasons that have influenced the American pursuit of dreams.

Contribution in class; presentation of paper in class; written paper (15-20 pages)

written and oral

Students must have completed their "1. Studienabschnitt"