LFU:online

A basic understanding of the 1960s Counterculture, interpretation of literary texts, awareness of interrelations between politics, social criticism and literary fiction.

This course is a literary survey of the 1960s US American Counterculture, represented by authors such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Ken Kesey, Thomas Wolfe, William S. Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, and Thomas Pynchon. By locating their writing socio-politically we will be able to understand respective agendas of liberation as deliberate responses to dominant cultural paradigms then perceived as expressions of a repressive military-industrial apparatus rather than "hippie" stereotypes.

Readings, discussions, and presentations

Active participation, presentation, term-paper of ca. 3,500 words

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

for the Bachelor Program (612): positive completion of compulsory module 10, 
for the Teacher Training Program (Lehramtsstudium: 344): VO2: Introduction to American Literary Studies
for BA Lehramt (344): positive completion of compulsory module 13

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

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.