LFU:online

To sharpen the awareness concerning American ideals and the American self-image, filmic storytelling devices, and the historical development of Hollywood cinema.

Throughout the history of Hollywood cinema, films that celebrate core American values such as equality, perseverance, and honesty have served almost as a genre of their own. Often termed "inspirational dramas," "social issue films," or "message movies," they deliberately set out to "make a difference," to raise social awareness and motivate audiences to become better persons – or at least, better Americans.

This course analyzes a selection of such films from various periods of Hollywood history, from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (honesty) to Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (equality) and The Shawshank Redemption (hope and perseverance). How, we will ask, do these examples show what a "good" American is, or ought to be? How do they manage (or not manage) to be uplifting without being preachy, righteous without being self-righteous, and educational without being boring?

Lecture inputs, presentations, group discussions.

Active class participation, student presentations, reading and viewing assignments, term paper

As far as possible, course materials and selected secondary sources will be posted on OLAT.

for the Bachelor Program (612): positive completion of compulsory module 14
for Bachelor Program Lehramt: positive completion of compulsory module 16
for the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): VO2: Introduction to American Literary Studies

For the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): PS2: American Culture.

For students of the BA Teacher Training Program (046) it is strongly recommended to have passed the VU Introduction to American Cultures.

Due to substantial differences in the allocation of ECTS-Credits in various curricula (teacher training program - BA/MA English and American Studies), the requirements for this course vary. Information will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.