HENKE2402U English - Free topic B: The American Century: Twentieth Century Explorations in American History and Literature
Engelsk
The term “American Century” was coined by Henry Luce, publisher of Time¸ Life, and Fortune magazines. Luce wrote that “American jazz, Hollywood movies, American slang, American machines and patented products, are in fact the only things that every community in the world, from Zanzibar to Hamburg, recognized in common. Blindly, unintentionally, accidentally and really in spite of ourselves, we are already a world power in all the trivial ways – in very human ways. But there is a great deal more than that. America is already the intellectual, scientific and artistic capital of the world.” (Henry Luce, 1941)
The American Century course provides an in-depth thematic exploration of the transformation of the nation in the twentieth century. We will look at the ways in which it developed in literary, historical and political terms. How and in what ways did the American Century come about? How did it manifest itself? How was it discussed by American intellectuals, and how was it represented by American artists and writers? Has the American Century now ended, and are other superpowers, especially China, about to take over as hegemonic power(s)? These are among the main questions to be asked and debated throughout the course.
The history element scrutinizes the relationship between America’s internal and external growth. Economic, social, political, technological, and cultural viewpoints are covered, using an interrogative and explanatory method towards primary sources and secondary explanations. This method will allow us to contemplate critically how, why, and by whom history is studied and constructed, and to consider how historians work.
The literature element takes us through the major currents of realist, modernist and postmodern writing in both theory and practice with a focus on narrative prose and poetry that provide keys to understanding of a particular dimension of America at a particular time such for instance as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Toni Morrison’s Beloved, and Paul Auster’s The New York Trilogy.
TBA
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Preparation
- 353.5
- Total
- 409.5
Exchange students: apply for courses in Mobility Online. Questions regarding course registration should be directed to visitingstudents@hum.ku.dk .
International fee-paying guest students: visithttps://humanities.ku.dk/education/guest/ on how to sign up for courses.
For international students: Proof of English proficiency is required if you want to take this course. Find the requirements here: https://studies.ku.dk/study-abroad/erasmus/course-information/proof-of-english-proficiency/
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Portfolio, A joint portfolio uploaded in digital exam: Deadline January 6th 2025
- Type of assessment details
- A power point presentation (3-5 slides) at a student conference
based on a synopsis and bibliography (2-4 pages) in the literature
element. Slides, synopsis and presentation count as ½ of the final
grade.
Final essay (11-15 pages) on set question(s) in the history element course. It counts as ½ of the final grade. - Exam registration requirements
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
Criteria for exam assesment
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- HENKE2402U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- See schedule
Study board
- Study board of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting department
- Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinators
- Joseph Goddard (7-6d756a6a67786a466e7b7334717b346a71)
- Inge Birgitte Siegumfeldt (6-786e6a6c7a72456d7a7233707a336970)