AJ18050 Introduction to Canada

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Klára Kolinská, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ18050/A: Wed 8:20–9:55 G31, K. Kolinská
AJ18050/B: Wed 11:40–13:15 G22, K. Kolinská
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ09999 Qualifying Examination
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to identify certain distinctive features of Canadian national culture in relation to the country’s specific geographic and natural characteristics, as well as its historical and socio-cultural development. The basic attributes of Canada, as one of the largest countries in the (not only English-speaking) world, will be discussed together with the key moments of its history. Among the most important aspects of Canada that will be studied will be the relation between the anglophone and francophone Canada, the history of immigration, the mainstream society’s interaction with the Aboriginal peoples, and the politics of multiculturalism. The second part of the course will be dedicated to examples of representations of the above mentioned social issues in works of Canadian literature and art.
Syllabus
  • Syllabus: 1. Introduction: Basic characteristics of Canada. Geography of Canada. (Douglas Coupland: “Distance,“ „One Billion Years“ in: D. Coupland: Souvenir of Canada) 2. History of Canada I. (W.L. Morton: “The Relevance of Canadian History“ in: Eli Mandel and David Taras, eds.: A Passion for Identity) 3. History of Canada II. (George Grant: “In Defence of North America“ in: A Passion for Identity) 4. Characteristics, history and culture of Canadian Aboriginal People (Michael Asch: “Contemporary Native Life: Images and Realities“ in: Passion for Identity) 5. Vision of the Canadian North (Sherrill Grace “Constructing a Northern Nation“ in: Canada and the Idea of North) 6. English and French Canada (Mordecai Richler: from: Oh Canada! Oh Québec! Requiem for a Divided Country) 7. Immigration and multiculturalism: (“Celebrating Diversity: Multiculturalism as Ideology“ in: Augie Fleras and Jean Leonard Elliott: The Challenge for Diversity: Multiculturalism in Canada) 8. Space and region in the Canadian context (“On the Concept of Region in Canadian History and Literature“ in: A Passion for Identity) 9. Canadian culture I: music and visual arts (George Woodcock: “The Cultural Upsurge“ in: George Woodcock: A Social History of Canada) 10. Canadian culture II: theatre and drama (Alan Filewood: “National Theatre/ National Obsession“ in: Ajay Heble, Donna Palmateer Pennee and J.R. (Tim) Struthers, eds.: New Contexts of Canadian Criticism) 11. Canadian literature I. (“The Problem of a Canadian Literature“ in: A Passion for Identity) 12. Canadian literature II. (Margaret Atwood: z: Survival. A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature) 13. conclusion, discussion, reading of selected texts
Literature
  • Ajay Heble, Donna Palmateer Pennee & j.R. Struthers, eds.: New Contexts of Canadian Criticism
  • John Saywell: Canada: Pathways to the Present
  • Neil Bissoondath: Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in Canada
  • Russell Brown & Donna Bennet: An Anthology of Canadian Literature in English
  • Augie Fleras & Jean Leonard Elliott: The Challenge of Diversity: Multiculturalism in Canada
  • Eli Mandel & David Taras, eds.: A Passion for Identity. An Introduction to Canadian Studies
Assessment methods
Instruction: seminar discussions Assessment: class participation, in-class test, final essay
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught each semester.
Teacher's information
http://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=2210
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Spring 2008, Spring 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2009/AJ18050