Create continuities with previously acquired knowledge;

Acquire specific jargon;

Acquire critical instruments of analysis;

Speak fluently in English about US (inter)cultural topics 

Classes are structured in 5 weeks; each of them is devoted to a theme which will be studied from a different perspective. American Studies are in fact experiencing a serious process of redefinition, and this is a challenge to make them become a truly international, transnational, and interdisciplinary area of research and cross-dialogue. Since we are more and more encouraged to include the global as the horizon of thinking and to interact with the so-called mediascapes, the aim of this course is, in particular, to look at the way American Studies can react to and actually (re)define themselves in relation to social sciences, border studies and postcolonial studies, music and film studies.

It is advisable that the studens have a basic knowledge of US history and geography

Understand the different cultures and identities

Be able to distinguish between different genres and authors;

Find intersections and interfaces between disciplines (history, geography, film studies, political science, etc.);

To be able to apply the methodology of study and research to many aspects of culture

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

articles, conferences, films

Teaching

lectures,  class discussion

Attendance

Attentance is encouraged but not compulsory

Course books

Texts

http://theundocumented.com/

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/gilded/empire/text1/turner.pdf

http://www.tc-america.org/issues-information/us-turkey-relations-27.htm

Films

Altar, Canadian Bacon, The Second Civil War

More material will be inserted in "Blended" website

Assessment

Written exam

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.