LFU:online

Sensitizing the students to aspects of American culture in the context of political satire in popular media.

What is funny, when, and why? This proseminar attempts to trace American culture by looking at popular comedy outlets in US-American media. With a special focus on political comedy and satire, we will discuss the manner and form of creating humor and also the issue of taboos in comedy will be raised. What are the conventions? What is funny and what is offensive? Why is not everybody ‘allowed’ to make fun of everything? Or are we?

Primary sources discussed will include (but are not limited to): Late Night Talk Shows, Saturday Night Live, Sitcoms, and Stand-Up Comedy.

Lecture inputs, student presentations, group discussions.

Active class participation, student presentations, reading and writing assignments, term paper.

Course materials and selected primary and 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 students of the BA Teacher Training Program (046), it is strongly recommended to have passed the VU Introduction to American Cultures.

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

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.