AJ15079 Ethnic American Literature

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2018
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. et Mgr. Jan Beneš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
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
Wed 19:10–20:45 G32
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
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The purpose of this course is for students to read and write about contemporary issues in ethnic literatures of the United States. Special emphasis will be put on the ways in which race, class, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality shape personal, cultural, and social realities. Themes of double consciousness, social construction of race and ethnicity, cultural hybridity, immigration, assimilation, passing, exclusion and marginalization, geographical and psychological displacement, as well as artistic representation are central in these selections of literature. This course will explore how wider social and cultural forces shape the philosophical outlooks and esthetic sensibilities of ethnic American writers and artists as students will be expected to read, critically reflect on and engage with written texts and visual representations such as films and musicals. The writing component built into the course will help students learn and practice the basics and expectations of scholarly essays as well as help them prepare for the final comprehensive exam essays in cultural studies and literature at the end of their undergraduate studies.
Learning outcomes
Ability to critically reflect on and engage with written texts and visual representations of ethnic American texts, films, and musicals. Knowledge of the basics and expectations of scholarly essays in the humanities.
Syllabus
  • Special emphasis will be put on the ways in which race, class, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality shape personal, cultural, and social realities. Themes of double consciousness, social construction of race and ethnicity, cultural hybridity, immigration, assimilation, passing, exclusion and marginalization, geographical and psychological displacement, as well as artistic representation are central in these selections of literature. This course will explore how wider social and cultural forces shape the philosophical outlooks and esthetic sensibilities of ethnic American writers and artists.
Literature
  • HOSSEINI, Khaled. The kite runner. London: Bloomsbury, 2004, vii, 340. ISBN 0747573395. info
  • Kindred. Edited by Octavia E. Butler. 25th anniverary ed. Boston: Beacon Press, 2003, 287 p. ;. ISBN 0807083690. info
  • ERDRICH, Louise. Love medicine. New York: Bantam Books, 1984, 272 s. ISBN 0-553-34423-4. info
Teaching methods
Close reading, group discussion, composition, presentation, lecturing.
Assessment methods
Participation (Discussions, Conferences, Peer Review) 15% Presentation 15% Primary-text Response 35% Final Paper Proposal/Bibliography 5% Final Paper Draft 10% Final Paper 20%
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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