Betreuungsübung Amerikanistik (BA-Arbeiten/Kultur)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung, ECTS: 2

Termine:

jede 2. Woche Fr, 14:00 - 16:00, U5/02.18

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzungen:

Literaturwissenschaft

• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF mit BA-Arbeit): Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft: Betreuungsübung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft
• BA Medieval Studies: Intensivierungsmodul Anglistik/Amerikanistik (2 ECTS), wenn die BA-Arbeit in amerikanischer Literaturwissenschaft geschrieben wird; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Anglistik
• alle alten Studiengänge: Übung Literaturwissenschaft (begleitend zur Magister- oder Zulassungsarbeit)

Kulturwissenschaft

• B.A. Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF mit B.A.-Arbeit): Vertiefungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft: Betreuungsübung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft
• B.A. Medieval Studies: Intensivierungsmodul Anglistik/Amerikanistik (2 ECTS), wenn die B.A.-Arbeit in Kulturwissenschaft geschrieben wird; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Anglistik
• alle alten Studiengänge: Übung Kulturwissenschaft

2. Voraussetzungen zur Schein- bzw. Punktevergabe:

• regelmäßige aktive Teilnahme
• mündliche Modulteilprüfung in der letzten Sitzung

3. Anmeldung/Abmeldung:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Inhalt:

This course is addressed at students who are preparing or working at a BA-thesis in American Literature or Culture. It is supposed to offer continuous support to students while preparing or writing their theses, and to give them the opportunity to present and discuss their work with other students.

We shall discuss general formal aspects and criteria of a thesis – such as possible topics, structure, suitable theoretical approaches. Participants will present (parts of) their thesis, offering it for discussion and feedback. The individual sessions consist of one-to-one tutorials in which you can discuss the argument, the progress and possible problems of your thesis with me. For students in the BA programs, who write their thesis in literary studies, this course provides the “Betreuungsübung”. The presentation of the thesis in a plenary session (max. 30 minutes) will be graded and counts as "mündliche Modulteilprüfung" in the BA-program. Depending on the native tongue of the participants, the course will be given in English or German.

The course will take place every two weeks. Our first meeting will take place in the first week of the semester.

Betreuungsübung Amerikanistik (BA-Arbeiten/Literatur)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung

Termine:

jede 2. Woche Fr, 14:00 - 16:00, U5/02.18

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzungen:

Literaturwissenschaft

• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF mit BA-Arbeit): Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft: Betreuungsübung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft
• BA Medieval Studies: Intensivierungsmodul Anglistik/Amerikanistik (2 ECTS), wenn die BA-Arbeit in amerikanischer Literaturwissenschaft geschrieben wird; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Anglistik
• alle alten Studiengänge: Übung Literaturwissenschaft (begleitend zur Magister- oder Zulassungsarbeit)

Kulturwissenschaft

• B.A. Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF mit B.A.-Arbeit): Vertiefungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft: Betreuungsübung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft
• B.A. Medieval Studies: Intensivierungsmodul Anglistik/Amerikanistik (2 ECTS), wenn die B.A.-Arbeit in Kulturwissenschaft geschrieben wird; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Anglistik
• alle alten Studiengänge: Übung Kulturwissenschaft

2. Voraussetzungen zur Schein- bzw. Punktevergabe:

• regelmäßige aktive Teilnahme
• mündliche Modulteilprüfung in der letzten Sitzung

3. Anmeldung/Abmeldung:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Inhalt:

This course is addressed at students who are preparing or working at a BA-thesis in American Literature or Culture. It is supposed to offer continuous support to students while preparing or writing their theses, and to give them the opportunity to present and discuss their work with other students.

We shall discuss general formal aspects and criteria of a thesis – such as possible topics, structure, suitable theoretical approaches. Participants will present (parts of) their thesis, offering it for discussion and feedback. The individual sessions consist of one-to-one tutorials in which you can discuss the argument, the progress and possible problems of your thesis with me. For students in the BA programs, who write their thesis in literary studies, this course provides the “Betreuungsübung”. The presentation of the thesis in a plenary session (max. 30 minutes) will be graded and counts as "mündliche Modulteilprüfung" in the BA-program. Depending on the native tongue of the participants, the course will be given in English or German.

The course will take place every two weeks. Our first meeting will take place in the first week of the semester.

How to Write a Term Paper (Cultural Studies)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung/Blockseminar

Termine:

Einzeltermin am 3.6.2016, Einzeltermin am 17.6.2016, 14:00 - 16:00, U5/02.18

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

To register for the Workshops on Academic Writing, please send an Email to the instructor of this class until May 25, 2016!

Inhalt:

This course aims to assist students in writing their first term paper in literary or cultural studies in Bamberg. In the first session, we will discuss (and practice!) how to develop a coherent structure for a term paper. In the second session you will learn about (and practice!) the MLA citation rules and how to use them. You will also be asked to compile a short "Works Cited" list. Finally, we will discuss the different types of source material that can appear in the list of references of your term paper. Between the two sessions, you have the chance to present a provisional outline in a closed discussion forum, where you will receive feedback from your fellow students and the instructor.

If you are interested in participating in this exercise course send an Email to the instructor who will then give you the password to the VC course of this class.

Please note that this is an exercise course and not a lecture! You will be expected to participate in the tasks and discussions. Note: No ECTS points will be awarded for this class!

• Workshop I - Structuring a Term Paper: 03.06.2016 (14:00 – 16:00 s.t.)
• Workshop II - Citation Rules and Guidelines: 17.06.2016 (14:00 – 16:00 s.t.)

How to Write a Term Paper (Literary Studies)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung/Blockseminar

Termine:

Einzeltermin am 3.6.2016, Einzeltermin am 17.6.2016, 14:00 - 16:00, U5/02.18

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

To register for the Workshops on Academic Writing, please send an Email to the instructor of this class until May 25, 2016!

Inhalt:

This course aims to assist students in writing their first term paper in literary or cultural studies in Bamberg. In the first session, we will discuss (and practice!) how to develop a coherent structure for a term paper. In the second session you will learn about (and practice!) the MLA citation rules and how to use them. You will also be asked to compile a short "Works Cited" list. Finally, we will discuss the different types of source material that can appear in the list of references of your term paper. Between the two sessions, you have the chance to present a provisional outline in a closed discussion forum, where you will receive feedback from your fellow students and the instructor.

If you are interested in participating in this exercise course send an Email to the instructor who will then give you the password to the VC course of this class.

Please note that this is an exercise course and not a lecture! You will be expected to participate in the tasks and discussions. Note: No ECTS points will be awarded for this class!

• Workshop I - Structuring a Term Paper: 03.06.2016 (14:00 – 16:00 s.t.)
• Workshop II - Citation Rules and Guidelines: 17.06.2016 (14:00 – 16:00 s.t.)

Media Session "Hotel Films"

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Sonstige Lehrveranstaltung

Termine:

Fr, 16:30 - 20:00, U5/00.24
Einzeltermin am 25.5.2016, 20:00 - 22:00, U5/00.24
Einzeltermin am 24.6.2016, 16:30 - 20:00, U7/01.05

Inhalt:

The Media Session is designed as an extension of those classes of the American Department that work with movies. However, we encourage all students to attend the movie sessions, because we show American classics as well as classics inspired by America.

Hotel films are all "films set in hotels", ranging from romance to comedy, from slap stick to biopic, from horror film to mockumentary. This term, we will take a look at some of the milestones of this genre, with a selection of films that includes the classics as well as the more experimental hotel films out there. They all have one thing in common: their stories take place in some sort of hotel and make use of the often eccentric set of characters that one encounters there. Feel free to join us on our journey from one movie hotel to the next!

The final schedule can be viewed in the VC course "Schwarzes Brett Amerikanistik".
Please contact nicole.konopka(at)uni-bamberg.de via Email for the necessary password.

More Than Meets the Eye: A Survey of African-American Voices (Culture)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Proseminar, ECTS: 5, Studium Generale

Termine:

Fr, 10:15 - 11:45, U5/02.22
Einzeltermin am 1.7.2016, 10:00 - 11:45, U11/00.24

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzung / Part of modules resp. courses of study:

• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft
• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik: Aufbaumodul Britische und Amerikanische Kultur: Seminar Britische Kultur 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft
• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (Studienbeginn ab WS 14/15): Ergänzungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft Seminar + Übung (je nach Belegung 7, 5, oder 4 ECTS)
• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (bis einschließl. Studienbeginn zum WS 2008/09): freie Erweiterung: Seminar 6 ECTS
• BA Berufliche Bildung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS
• Lehramt neu GHS: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft b: Seminar 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Introduction to British and American Cultural Studies
• Lehramt neu RS: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Introduction to British and American Cultural Studies (= Einführung)
• Lehramt neu GY: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft
• Lehramt neu GY (Kombination mit Russisch): Wahlpflichtmodul Literaturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS
• LA alt (alle), Magister, Diplom: Proseminar II Kulturwissenschaft; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Introduction to British and American Cultural Studies

2. Voraussetzungen für Punktevergabe / Prerequisites for obtaining credit points:

• active participation
• term paper in English, 3.000-4.000 words (following the Style Sheet)
• Übung "Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten" (one-off 2-hour class, enrollment via Virtual Campus, Bereich "Englische Literaturwissenschaft")
• Übung "Einführung in die Datenbankrecherche für Anglisten" (one-off event, enrollment via the Virtual Campus, Bereich "Bibliothek")

3. An- und Abmeldung / Enrollment:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Für Studienortwechsler, Erasmusstudenten sowie Studierende, die den Leistungsnachweis zur baldigen Prüfungsanmeldung benötigen, werden im begrenzten Umfang Plätze freigehalten. Bei Überbuchung des Seminars fällt die Entscheidung über die Teilnahme in Rücksprache mit der Dozentin/dem Dozenten.

Studierende, die an der Lehrveranstaltung als Gäste teilnehmen wollen, melden sich bitte nicht über FlexNow! sondern per Email an und erscheinen zur ersten Sitzung; erst dann kann endgültig geklärt werden, ob Gäste aufgenommen werden können.

Informationen on how to enrol via FlexNow: http://www.uni-bamberg.de/englit/news_englische_literaturwissenschaft/anmeldung_zu_lehrveranstaltungen_und_studienbegleitenden_leistungsnachweisen/

Inhalt:

Studying American literature and culture would be incomplete without considering the wealth of African American perspectives. In this class we will discuss literary texts and cultural artefacts by African Americans and phenomena that are closely linked to their specific historical experiences.

Our classroom material will include mostly literary texts, but also music, film, painting, sculpture, food etc. As the title of the seminar suggests, we will employ several of our senses to deal with the topic, which may also include a field trip to the museum. Since we will deal with one of the key issues of American Studies, the reading list of this class will be rather extensive and students are expected to come to class prepared for lively, critical discussions.

Required Texts (in print - preferably Norton Critical Edition or Penguin Modern Classics - or as e-book):

before class starts in April / relevant for admittance to class:

• Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861)
• Nella Larsen, Passing (1929)
• Claude Brown, Manchild in the Promised Land (1965)

during the semester:

• Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
• Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun (1959)
• Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy. A Novel (1990)

Further mandatory reading will be made available via the Virtual Campus in the beginning of the semester!

Empfohlene Literatur:

• Kai Wright (ed.): The African American Experience: Black History and Culture Through Speeches, Letters, Editorials, Poems, Songs, and Stories. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 2009.
• Neil Irvin Painter: Creating Black Americans: African-American History and Its Meanings, 1619 to the Present. New York: OUP, 2007.

More Than Meets the Eye: A Survey of African-American Voices (Literature)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Proseminar, ECTS: 6, Studium Generale

Termine:

Fr, 10:15 - 11:45, U5/02.22
Einzeltermin am 1.7.2016, 10:00 - 11:45, U11/00.24

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzung / Part of modules resp. courses of study:

• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft
• BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (bis einschließl. Studienbeginn zum WS 2008/09): freie Erweiterung: Seminar 6 ECTS
• BA Berufliche Bildung: Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS
• LA GS/HS/MS/RS: Basis/Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft (b): Seminar 6 ECTS Zugangsvoraussetzung: Introduction to English and American Literature (= Einführung)
• Lehramt neu GY (Kombination mit Russisch): Wahlpflichtmodul Literaturwissenschaft: Seminar 6 ECTS
• LA alt (alle), Magister, Diplom: Proseminar II Literaturwissenschaft; Zugangsvoraussetzung: Introduction to English and American Literature

2. Voraussetzungen für Punktevergabe / Prerequisites for obtaining credit points:

• active participation
• term paper in English, 3.000-4.000 words (following the Style Sheet)
• Übung "Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten" (one-off 2-hour class, enrollment via Virtual Campus, Bereich "Englische Literaturwissenschaft")
• Übung "Einführung in die Datenbankrecherche für Anglisten" (one-off event, enrollment via the Virtual Campus, Bereich "Bibliothek")

3. An- und Abmeldung / Enrollment:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Für Studienortwechsler, Erasmusstudenten sowie Studierende, die den Leistungsnachweis zur baldigen Prüfungsanmeldung benötigen, werden im begrenzten Umfang Plätze freigehalten. Bei Überbuchung des Seminars fällt die Entscheidung über die Teilnahme in Rücksprache mit der Dozentin/dem Dozenten.

Studierende, die an der Lehrveranstaltung als Gäste teilnehmen wollen, melden sich bitte nicht über FlexNow! sondern per Email an und erscheinen zur ersten Sitzung; erst dann kann endgültig geklärt werden, ob Gäste aufgenommen werden können.

Informationen on how to enrol via FlexNow: http://www.uni-bamberg.de/englit/news_englische_literaturwissenschaft/anmeldung_zu_lehrveranstaltungen_und_studienbegleitenden_leistungsnachweisen/

Inhalt:

Studying American literature and culture would be incomplete without considering the wealth of African American perspectives. In this class we will discuss literary texts and cultural artefacts by African Americans and phenomena that are closely linked to their specific historical experiences.

Our classroom material will include mostly literary texts, but also music, film, painting, sculpture, food etc. As the title of the seminar suggests, we will employ several of our senses to deal with the topic, which may also include a field trip to the museum. Since we will deal with one of the key issues of American Studies, the reading list of this class will be rather extensive and students are expected to come to class prepared for lively, critical discussions.

Required Texts (in print - preferably Norton Critical Edition or Penguin Modern Classics - or as e-book):

before class starts in April / relevant for admittance to class:

• Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861)
• Nella Larsen, Passing (1929)
• Claude Brown, Manchild in the Promised Land (1965)

during the semester:

• Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
• Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun (1959)
• Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy. A Novel (1990)

Further mandatory reading will be made available via the Virtual Campus in the beginning of the semester!

Empfohlene Literatur:

• Kai Wright (ed.): The African American Experience: Black History and Culture Through Speeches, Letters, Editorials, Poems, Songs, and Stories. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, 2009.
• Neil Irvin Painter: Creating Black Americans: African-American History and Its Meanings, 1619 to the Present. New York: OUP, 2007.

Reading Age. Childhood and Youth in German and North-American Culture (and Literature)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung, ECTS: 4, Studium Generale

Termine:

Mi, 12:00 - 14:00, U9/01.11

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzung / Part of modules resp. courses of study:

BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik:

• Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft: Übung (2 ECTS)
• Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft: Übung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft

BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF ohne BA-Arbeit):

• Vertiefungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft: Übung (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft

MA Anglistik/Amerikanistik:

• Mastermodul Kulturwissenschaft: Übung (2 ECTS)
• Master-Vertiefungsmodul Kulturwissenschaft I oder II: Übung (2 ECTS)
• Erweiterungsmodul I: Übung (2 ECTS)

Erweiterungsbereich Anglistik/Amerikanistik im Rahmen anderer MA: Erweiterungsmodul I:

• Übung (2 ECTS)

Lehramt neu GHS: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft (4 ECTS)
Lehramt neu RS: Zusatzmodul Kulturwissenschaft
Lehramt neu GY: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft (2 ECTS)
Lehramt neu GY: Aufbaumodul Kulturwissenschaft (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Kulturwissenschaft
Lehramt neu GY (ab WS 11/2): Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft
LA alt (alle), Diplom, Magister: Übung
Studium Generale: 2 od. 4 ECTS, NICHT für Studierende im BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik!

2. Voraussetzungen für Punktevergabe / Prerequisites for obtaining credit points:

• 2 ECTS: active participation and presentation (10-15 minutes)
• 4 ECTS: active participation, presentation, written assignment (1.000-1.500 words)

3. An- und Abmeldung / Enrollment:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Für Studienortwechsler, Erasmusstudenten sowie Studierende, die den Leistungsnachweis zur baldigen Prüfungsanmeldung benötigen, werden im begrenzten Umfang Plätze freigehalten. Bei Überbuchung des Seminars fällt die Entscheidung über die Teilnahme in Rücksprache mit der Dozentin/dem Dozenten.

Studierende, die an der Lehrveranstaltung als Gäste teilnehmen wollen, melden sich bitte nicht über FlexNow! sondern per Email an und erscheinen zur ersten Sitzung; erst dann kann endgültig geklärt werden, ob Gäste aufgenommen werden können.

Informationen on how to enrol via FlexNow: http://www.uni-bamberg.de/englit/news_englische_literaturwissenschaft/anmeldung_zu_lehrveranstaltungen_und_studienbegleitenden_leistungsnachweisen/

Inhalt:

This interdisciplinary course has been designed especially for North-American exchange students and German students, inviting them to study each other’s cultures together. Readings and classroom discussions will be both in English and German.

We often hear about “youthful appearance” and “childish behavior”. Advertisement in the US, Canada and Germany addresses the “inner child” and the “age of consent” is discussed by politicians, while “parental guidance” is recommended by media control committees. Books are censored or rewritten because of their “age inappropriate content”, and more than one industry profits from their appeal to “age specific audiences”. One often hears that the future of a society relies on producing and shaping the next generation, but their egalitarian status within the system seems highly problematic. Pink Floyd and Herbert Grönemeyer propose alternatives, TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras seems – not just geographically speaking – miles apart from Johanna Spyri’s Heidi, while Hollywood makes millions from “scary offspring” and the ideas of Maria Montessori are practiced globally.

The list of socio-political instances and cultural artefacts affected and influenced by age is extensive and provides the context of this class. Asking “Why?” and “How?”, we will conduct a comparative analysis of German and North American literary works and cultural products based on the category age, thus investigating the historical context of certain age related stereotypes and attitudes, as well as their impact on literary and cultural production and consumption. At first, we will consult standard texts from the field of age related studies to establish a theoretical framework for our discussions. Afterwards, we will discuss a wide variety of texts on a weekly basis. Our “reading” material will include literary works, movies, TV shows, music, advertisement, websites, photography and paintings. How does language use and shape stereotypical perceptions of certain age groups and what are the differences between German and North American literary and cultural representations of age? What are ageism, childism, and youthism, and what is the difference between “youth culture” and “age discrimination”? In the end, we may even dare to speculate about alternatives to this obsession with or control by age.

Since we will deal with key issues of literary and cultural studies, it is advisable (but not obligatory!) that you already passed the introductory courses before registering for this class. Also, the reading list is rather extensive and students are expected to come to class prepared. The class depends on two things: thorough reading of all the material and everyone’s participation in the discussions. Get ready, therefore, to confront and deal with your own prejudices, experiences, and expectations. The issues covered in this class are living issues, as they influence the lives of many – not only in American culture!

Attention: This is a READING class! Participants must be able to read and review quite a lot of material between the weekly sessions. The class is also designed to assist you with the reading list of the American Studies Section and aims to contribute to your understanding of key narratives of North American literature and culture. Most of the material will be provided via the Virtual Campus ahead of each session. Students are, however, required to read some texts before the beginning of the semester – either in print or as e-book.

Empfohlene Literatur:

Required Reading – before the beginning of the term:

• Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868)
• Johanna Spyri, Heidi (beide Teile!) (1880-81)
• Erich Kästner, Emil und die Detektive (1929)
• James Krüss, Timm Thaler, oder Das verkaufte Lachen (1962)

Required Reading – during the term:

• Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick (1867)
• Stephen Crane, Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (1893)
• Karen Russell, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves (2006)

Additional readings will be made available via the Virtual Campus.

Reading Age. Childhood and Youth in German and North-American Literature (and Culture)

Dozent/in:

Nicole K. Konopka

Angaben:

Übung, ECTS: 4, Studium Generale

Termine:

Mi, 12:00 - 14:00, U9/01.11

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

1. Modulzuordnung und Zugangsvoraussetzung / Part of modules resp. courses of study:

BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik:

• Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft: Übung 2 ECTS
• Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft: Übung 2 ECTS, Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft

BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik (nur HF ohne BA-Arbeit):

• Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft: Übung 2 ECTS, Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft

MA English and American Studies/Joint Degree:

• Mastermodul Literaturwissenschaft: Übung (2 ECTS)
• Master-Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft I oder II: Übung (2 ECTS)
• Erweiterungsmodul I: Übung (2 ECTS)

Erweiterungsbereich Anglistik/Amerikanistik im Rahmen anderer MA:

• Erweiterungsmodul I: Übung (2 ECTS)

Lehramt neu GHS: Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft a (4 ECTS)
Lehramt neu RS: Zusatzmodul Literaturwissenschaft (2 ECTS)
Lehramt neu GY:

• Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft (2 ECTS)
• Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Basismodul Literaturwissenschaft

Lehramt neu GY (ab WS 11/12): Vertiefungsmodul Literaturwissenschaft (2 ECTS), Zugangsvoraussetzung: Aufbaumodul Literaturwissenschaft
LA alt (alle), Diplom, Magister: Übung
Studium Generale: 2 od. 4 ECTS, NICHT für Studierende im BA Anglistik/Amerikanistik!

2. Voraussetzungen für Punktevergabe / Prerequisites for obtaining credit points:

• 2 ECTS: active participation and presentation (10-15 minutes)
• 4 ECTS: active participation, presentation, written assignment (1.000-1.500 words)

3. An- und Abmeldung / Enrollment:

• February 8 until the day before the first session
• via FlexNow (Students without access to FlexNow (Erasmus or Joint Degree) please send an email to the teacher of this class.)

Für Studienortwechsler, Erasmusstudenten sowie Studierende, die den Leistungsnachweis zur baldigen Prüfungsanmeldung benötigen, werden im begrenzten Umfang Plätze freigehalten. Bei Überbuchung des Seminars fällt die Entscheidung über die Teilnahme in Rücksprache mit der Dozentin/dem Dozenten.

Studierende, die an der Lehrveranstaltung als Gäste teilnehmen wollen, melden sich bitte nicht über FlexNow! sondern per Email an und erscheinen zur ersten Sitzung; erst dann kann endgültig geklärt werden, ob Gäste aufgenommen werden können.

Informationen on how to enrol via FlexNow: http://www.uni-bamberg.de/englit/news_englische_literaturwissenschaft/anmeldung_zu_lehrveranstaltungen_und_studienbegleitenden_leistungsnachweisen/

Inhalt:

This interdisciplinary course has been designed especially for North-American exchange students and German students, inviting them to study each other’s cultures together. Readings and classroom discussions will be both in English and German.

We often hear about “youthful appearance” and “childish behavior”. Advertisement in the US, Canada and Germany addresses the “inner child” and the “age of consent” is discussed by politicians, while “parental guidance” is recommended by media control committees. Books are censored or rewritten because of their “age inappropriate content”, and more than one industry profits from their appeal to “age specific audiences”. One often hears that the future of a society relies on producing and shaping the next generation, but their egalitarian status within the system seems highly problematic. Pink Floyd and Herbert Grönemeyer propose alternatives, TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras seems – not just geographically speaking – miles apart from Johanna Spyri’s Heidi, while Hollywood makes millions from “scary offspring” and the ideas of Maria Montessori are practiced globally.

The list of socio-political instances and cultural artefacts affected and influenced by age is extensive and provides the context of this class. Asking “Why?” and “How?”, we will conduct a comparative analysis of German and North American literary works and cultural products based on the category age, thus investigating the historical context of certain age related stereotypes and attitudes, as well as their impact on literary and cultural production and consumption. At first, we will consult standard texts from the field of age related studies to establish a theoretical framework for our discussions. Afterwards, we will discuss a wide variety of texts on a weekly basis. Our “reading” material will include literary works, movies, TV shows, music, advertisement, websites, photography and paintings. How does language use and shape stereotypical perceptions of certain age groups and what are the differences between German and North American literary and cultural representations of age? What are ageism, childism, and youthism, and what is the difference between “youth culture” and “age discrimination”? In the end, we may even dare to speculate about alternatives to this obsession with or control by age.

Since we will deal with key issues of literary and cultural studies, it is advisable (but not obligatory!) that you already passed the introductory courses before registering for this class. Also, the reading list is rather extensive and students are expected to come to class prepared. The class depends on two things: thorough reading of all the material and everyone’s participation in the discussions. Get ready, therefore, to confront and deal with your own prejudices, experiences, and expectations. The issues covered in this class are living issues, as they influence the lives of many – not only in American culture!

Attention: This is a READING class! Participants must be able to read and review quite a lot of material between the weekly sessions. The class is also designed to assist you with the reading list of the American Studies Section and aims to contribute to your understanding of key narratives of North American literature and culture. Most of the material will be provided via the Virtual Campus ahead of each session. Students are, however, required to read some texts before the beginning of the semester – either in print or as e-book.

Empfohlene Literatur:

Required Reading – before the beginning of the term:

• Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868)
• Johanna Spyri, Heidi (beide Teile!) (1880-81)
• Erich Kästner, Emil und die Detektive (1929)
• James Krüss, Timm Thaler, oder Das verkaufte Lachen (1962)

Required Reading – during the term:

• Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick (1867)
• Stephen Crane, Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (1893)
• Karen Russell, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves (2006)

Additional readings will be made available via the Virtual Campus.