- Code
- ELL 356
- Name
- American Studies
- Semester
- 0
- Lecture hours
- 3.00
- Seminar hours
- 0.00
- Laborator hours
- 0.00
- Credits
- 3.00
- ECTS
- 5.00
- Description
-
This is not a survey course in American History; rather, this course will provide students with an integrated and critical knowledge of American Culture and Society. American film reflects and arguably creates the American national identity. The films considered in this course will explore dynamics of modern America.
- Objectives
-
By the end of this course, students will have: • Improved critical analysis of the dynamics of American culture; • Improved academic writing skills.
- Java
- Tema
- 1
- Course Introduction • Syllabus review; course evaluation and submission • Discussion – student attitudes regarding America
- 2
- American Philosophical Thought • Big philosophical questions; • Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1840) • American Philosophical Movements: 17th C. – colonization, religious freedom; 18th C. – Great Awakening and the Enlightenment; the Founders – “the pursuit of happieness”, 19th C. – Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and Pragmatism; 20th C. – process philosophy;
- 3
- Intercultural Relations • Student response – intercultural experiences • Critical Thinking – typical “baggage” and perceptual traps (ethnocentrism, stereotyping, and prejudice) • Culture class example: use/value of time – monochronic v. polychronic • Film: Outsourced (2006)
- 4
- America, Race and Civil Rights • The institution of slavery – a world dynamic • Slavery in America • Civil Rights Movement • Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965) • Film: Mississippi Burning (1988)
- 5
- America at War • Historical review • George Washington, “Farewell Address” • Cold War – domino theory, interventions, Vietnam, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan • Film: Platoon (1986)
- 6
- Freedom of the Press • The United States Constitution: The First Amendment • Daniel Ellsberg and “The Pentagon Papers”
- 7
- Watergate • Richard Nixon • Security leacks and “enemies’ list” • The “Plumbers” and CREEP • Watergate: break-in, investigative journalism, political cover-up, congressional investigation, Nixon resignation • Film: All the President’s Men (1976)
- 8
- Midterm
- 9
- No class
- 10
- Music in America • Early European foundations • Evolution: indigenous, folk, religious, gospel, jazz, blues, swing • Student response: musical interests
- 11
- Rock and Roll in American-1 • “Foundations of Rock and Roll” • Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley • National demographics • American cultural impact: family relations, teenage behavior, race relations • Film: BBC, Rock and Roll in American Part 2 (2015)
- 12
- Rock and Roll in American-2 • “Whole Lotta Shakin’” • Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens • American cultural impact: family relations, teenage behavior, race relations • Film: BBC, Rock and Roll in American Part 3 (2015)
- 13
- Rock and Roll in American-3 • “Be My Baby” • American cultural impact: family relations, teenage behavior, race relations, gender relations • Girl groups, corporation backlash – the “Bobbies” • British Invasion • World-wide impact
- 14
- Course Discussion and Reflection .
- 15
- No class
- 16
- Final Exam
- 1
- . Shënime leksionesh – parashtresa javore
- 2
- . Ese kritike mbi temat e kursit: 1. Mendimi filozofik amerikan; 2. Marrëdhëniet ndërkulturore; 3. Etnia, raca dhe feja; 4. Shkenca politike dhe e drejta; 5. Lufta dhe konflikti. 6. Ndikimi i Rock and Roll-it Amerikan në rininë, marrëdhëniet familjare dhe rolet gjinore
- Quantity Percentage Total percent
- Midterms
- 1 40% 40%
- Quizzes
- 0 0% 0%
- Projects
- 0 0% 0%
- Term projects
- 0 0% 0%
- Laboratories
- 0 0% 0%
- Class participation
- 0 0% 0%
- Total term evaluation percent
- 40%
- Final exam percent
- 60%
- Total percent
- 100%
- Quantity Duration (hours) Total (hours)
- Course duration (including exam weeks)
- 16 3 48
- Off class study hours
- 14 4 56
- Duties
- 0 0 0
- Midterms
- 1 0 0
- Final exam
- 1 9 9
- Other
- 0 0 0
- Total workLoad
- 113
- Total workload / 25 (hours)
- 4.52
- ECTS
- 5.00