AJ16172 Contemporary Issues in US and UK Culture and Politics

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2016
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)
doc. Jeffrey Alan Smith, 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
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 14:10–15:45 G31
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ01002 Practical English II && AJ07002 Intro. to American Studies II
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 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course will examine current political and cultural controversies, primarily in the United States but also in the United Kingdom, based on events in the news and the current contents of public discussion in those countries. Class discussions and presentations will aim to contextualize present-day issues, locating them in the broader streams of history and cultural development that help explain how and why they arose, what is at stake in them, who the groups in contention are, and how the contrasting positions in current debates reflect and help construct different racial, cultural and political identities. Students will increase their ability to follow and understand events in the English-speaking world with depth and insight, and will have an opportunity to develop specific expertise with regard to one or more issues of their choice.
Syllabus
  • Whatever is in the news each week, plus:
  • Regions, states, and counties of the US and UK
  • Government structures and policymaking procedures
  • Presidents, prime ministers, and party organizations
  • Political traditions; "red" vs. "blue" (and vice-versa)
  • Racial and ethnic issues
  • Class, mobility, and economic issues
  • Popular cultures and stereotypes
  • Issues chosen and presented by students
Literature
    required literature
  • American political parties and electionsa very short introduction. Edited by Louis Sandy Maisel. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, xvi, 175 p. ISBN 9780195301229. info
  • Books: Wright, British Politics; Wenz, Beyond Red and Blue; Articles: Woodard, "The Real U.S. Map," Parts 1 -5
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, readings, student presentations, and possibly film or TV viewings.
Assessment methods
100% final exam, administered on the last regularly scheduled day of class. The exam will be based on what has been presented and discussed in class; on certain specially designated or "pinned" postings to the Facebook group for the course; and on the readings in the "Assigned readings" online folder. Students may also earn extra credit by giving class presentations and by actively contributing to Facebook group discussions. The exam "re-sit" will be an essay assignment.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://tinyurl.com/issuesUSUK
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2016/AJ16172