Understanding American culture and the dynamics of relationships between different cultures (nationally and internationally) through readings and films in a deep and critical way

Students are encouraged to use up-to-date and flexible methodologies during class discussions and through on-going tests and the final test will be able to correctly ascertain the skills acquired.

The autonomy of the students in the choices, critical learning and organization of the study is also encouraged, ensuring adequate guidance and support for this purpose.

Te US culture will be studied from the perspective of technology, in a diacronic way, and relying upon literary txts, journal articles, and movies. We shall especially take into consideration those technologies which have marked turning points in the cultural development of both society and the individual,  such as the watch and robotics. These wil also be connected with the main topics of the cultural debate - American dream, frontier, melting pot, gender issues, ethnicity...  

Some time will be devoted to a detailed analysis of the main key-words of US culture  

It is preferable (but not mandatory) to have an understanding of the basic elements of the language of history / culture of the USA

Knowledge and understanding

The student will come to possess knowledge and ability to understand contents and problems characteristic of the discipline (issues concerning the construction of identity and interculturalism) and its specific subject of the course (their representations in movies), also identifying possible continuities with previous knowledge and learning how to find intersections and interfaces with other disciplines (history, geography, political science)

Applying knowledge and understanding

The student will be able to apply his / her knowledge and understanding in order to demonstrate a professional approach to work; both the aptitude to support arguments and to solve problems go in this direction, also with reference to new and interdisciplinary situations;

Making judgements

The student will have acquired information and / or data in the field of studies in question, useful for reflection, hypothesis formulation and determination of independent judgments; he/she will also be able to apply the study and research methodology to other aspects of US culture that are not specifically treated.

Communication skills

The student will be able to clearly communicate knowledge, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist interlocutors. This also includes the acquisition of specific vocabulary.

Learning skills

The student should have already learned to study and learn independently. If not, this will be a good opportunity.

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

Textbook, slides, films. Part of the course will be devoted to a seminar on the main keywords of American culture.

Teaching

lectures, films, group work, conferences

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly encouraged.

Students are required:

- to study all the material that will be progressively inserted on the Moodle platform

- to bring the texts into the classroom for adoption or on paper or in electronic support

In case of communication with the teacher it is mandatory to use the uniurb institutional account

Course books

BOOKS:

L. Ambrogiani, A. Calanchi (eds), The Student’s Handbook to American Culture: An A-Z Guide to the Social Identity/ies of the United States (Oakmond e-book 2021)

A.K. Green, Crimini con le lancette (ed. by A. Calanchi, Galaad 2021)

FILMS:

Blade Runner; A.I.

Students will find on the platform:

E.A.Poe, “The Man that Was Used Up”

H.Melville, “Bell Tower”

R.Heinlein, “Waldo”

Olther material, articles, slides, etc.

Assessment

Oral + 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.

Teaching

individual study

Attendance

Students are required to study / read all the material that will be progressively inserted on the Moodle platform

In case of communication with the teacher it is mandatory to use the uniurb institutional account

Course books

BOOKS:

L. Ambrogiani, A. Calanchi (eds), The Student’s Handbook to American Culture: An A-Z Guide to the Social Identity/ies of the United States (Oakmond e-book 2021)

A.K. Green, Crimini con le lancette (ed. by A. Calanchi, Galaad 2021)

FILMS:

Blade Runner; A.I.

Students will find on the platform:

E.A.Poe, “The Man that Was Used Up”

H.Melville, “Bell Tower”

R.Heinlein, “Waldo”

Olther material, articles, slides, etc.

Assessment

Oral + 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.