LFU:online

The seminar means to demonstrate the various functions of disabled characters in American literary texts in regard to cultural and political phenomena.

During the time of American Transcendentalism, Emerson as well as others propagated not only self-reliance but also nonconformism. A nonconformist, by definition, is someone who deliberately refuses to be bound to rules, customs, practices, or simply to follow the masses. Disability, as Rosemarie Garland Thomson argues, is a physical nonconformity with the main difference consisting in its involuntary deviation from the ‘normal.’ The analysis of American literary texts that feature disabled characters is meant to show how those characters can be read as symptomatic of certain cultural and political phenomena.

To be discussed at the beginning of the semester

Prerequisite for the Master's Programme: positive completion of compulsory module 4
Prerequisite for the Diploma Programme (Diplomstudium: 343) and the Teacher Training Programme (Lehramtsstudium: 344): completed first part of studies

For the Diploma Programme (Diplomstudium: 343): SE2: American Literature/Culture, for Teacher Training Programme (Lehramtsstudium: 344): SE2: American Literature and 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.