LFU:online

Institut für Amerikastudien Institut für Amerikastudien

Johannes Mahlknecht Johannes Mahlknecht

610003

American Literature: 'The Rest is History': The Dramatization of the American Past

PS 2

5

wöch.

semestral

Englisch

In focusing on the manifold connections and reciprocal influences between history and literature, this course aims to generate a deeper understanding of the functions of literature in shaping our view of the American past. Furthermore, the various discussions and presentations should enable students to challenge, modify or reevaluate common notions of history as "truth" versus literature as "fiction." Since this course highlights several key incidents (and the dramatizations thereof) from various periods throughout US history, it should also help increase a general knowledge of the nation’s tumultuous past.

How does American literature channel its nation’s history? What (if any) are the authors’ responsibilities in fictionally dealing with documented fact, and what (if any) difference does it make whether that fact stems from yesterday or from 300 years ago? In what way does literature – for better or worse – shape and transform our awareness of past events? And in what different ways can history serve authors as both source for a serious reflection of the past and simply as a "creative toolbox"? In order to investigate these and similar questions, we will analyze and discuss a variety of literary works of different genres (both canonized and popular texts, as well as a number of films). In one way or another, each of these works deals with famous events that have taken place throughout the history of the United States. Compulsory readings/viewings include: Readings: _The Crucible_ (1953, Arthur Miller), _The Confessions of Nat Turner_ (1967, William Styron), _The Red Badge of Courage_(1895, Stephen Crane), _11/22/63_ (2011, Stephen King) Viewings: _Little Big Man_ (1970, Arthur Penn) _Judgment at Nuremberg_ (1961, Stanley Kramer)

Lecture inputs, presentations, group discussions

active class participation, student presentations, viewing assignments, term paper

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

Anmeldevoraussetzung/en im BA: positive Beurteilung der Pflichtmodule 3 und 16 Anmeldevoraussetzung im Lehramtsstudium: VO2: Introduction to American Literary Studies Entspricht im Lehramtsstudium (344): PS2: American Literature

04.03.2013