Complementary Profile North American Studies

The Complementary Studies Profile “North American Studies” enables students to multilingually engage with the vast range of topics surrounding Canada and the United States. In a variety of seminars, we offer diverse perspectives on the history, culture, and politics of those two countries. Furthermore, we will not only present the North American continent from an Anglo-American perspective, but also provide insights into Franco-Canadian (see module 4) and Hispanic cultural spheres (see module 2).

Overview

Modules in Complementary Studies	Titles and Course Descriptions
Module 1: Inter- and trans-disciplinary sciences mediality-oriented	Introducing North American Studies The survey course introduces students to three aspects of North American Studies: first, NAS as an academic subject influenced by academic as well as non-academic discourses (such as politics, religion, and history); second, NAS encompassing a vast range of topics, such as minority voices and aspects of “Otherness”; and third, NAS as a showcase for cultural production reflected in literature, art, and film.
Module 2: Social Sciences mediality-oriented	North American Studies Meets the Social Sciences In this module, we study different societies in North America and the relationship between individuals within these societies. We focus on such diverse topics as anthropology, ecology, religion, linguistics, and political science while employing theories, such as post colonialism, ecocriticism, and gender studies. or La otra América: La cultura chicana en los Estados Unidos Los Estados Unidos vienen sufriendo un cambio demográfico importante. Las previsiones señalan que en 2050 habrá más inmigrantes en California que hablen español que inglés. En este seminario tras la lectura y análisis de distintos textos literarios se discutirá en qué medida los inmigrantes mexicanos "chicanos/-as" influyen con su lengua y cultura en la política y la sociedad de los EEUU. Además se estudiará la cultura mexicana y se reflexionará sobre la experiencia inmigratoria en los EEUU.
Module 3: Humanities practice-oriented	Confronting Contemporary Culture This project seminar entails all stages of creating a final product in English (e.g. blog, anthology, twitter fiction, volume of poetry). Students will work in teams in conjunction with their instructor/s on various aspects of the project seminar and become familiar with genre-related practices and contemporary discourses in North America. This seminar combines theoretical foundations with practical applications.
Module 3 (alternative): Social Sciences practice-oriented	Confronting Contemporary Society – Excursion In this project seminar, we put together a study trip to a culturally rich destination in North America. Students plan, coordinate, and carry out the stages of the study trip in conjunction with their instructor/s and reflect on the project upon return. Participants become familiar with contemporary social conflicts and discourses in the region.
Module 4: Humanities mediality-oriented	North American Studies Meets the Humanities In this module, we explore various aspects of culture and literature by critically discussing authentic cultural texts, such as literary works, podcasts, films, and (digital, platform, and network) TV productions. We study North American culture, its institutions, and contemporary discourses. We focus on various themes, modes, and cultural contexts through the interdisciplinary lenses of the liberal arts, e.g. ethnic studies, identity construction, and ethics. or La Francophonie d’Amérique du nord: Langue et identité au Québec. Französisch B2.1-C1 (FSL-SZ) L’aventure coloniale française en Amérique du Nord s’est terminée il y a de cela 250 ans. Les colons établis dans l’ancienne « Nouvelle-France » ont cependant continué à exister en tant que groupe francophone, notamment au sein du Canada. Qu’est-ce qui a permis à la communauté franco-canadienne de maintenir aussi longtemps sa langue et sa culture dans une Amérique du nord majoritairement anglophone? A travers quels éléments définit-elle son identité? Nous essayerons de répondre à ces questions à travers l'analyse de documents authentiques et nous porterons la discussion sur une définition plus générale de l’identité et de l'appartenance à une communauté nationale/ ethnique.

Modules in Complementary Studies

Titles and Course Descriptions

Module 1:

Inter- and trans-disciplinary sciences
mediality-oriented

Introducing North American Studies

The survey course introduces students to three aspects of North American Studies: first, NAS as an academic subject influenced by academic as well as non-academic discourses (such as politics, religion, and history); second, NAS encompassing a vast range of topics, such as minority voices and aspects of “Otherness”; and third, NAS as a showcase for cultural production reflected in literature, art, and film.

Module 2:

Social Sciences mediality-oriented

North American Studies Meets the Social Sciences

In this module, we study different societies in North America and the relationship between individuals within these societies. We focus on such diverse topics as anthropology, ecology, religion, linguistics, and political science while employing theories, such as post colonialism, ecocriticism, and gender studies.

La otra América: La cultura chicana en los Estados Unidos

Los Estados Unidos vienen sufriendo un cambio demográfico importante. Las previsiones señalan que en 2050 habrá más inmigrantes en California que hablen español que inglés. En este seminario tras la lectura y análisis de distintos textos literarios se discutirá en qué medida los inmigrantes mexicanos "chicanos/-as" influyen con su lengua y cultura en la política y la sociedad de los EEUU. Además se estudiará la cultura mexicana y se reflexionará sobre la experiencia inmigratoria en los EEUU.

Module 3:

Humanities
practice-oriented

Confronting Contemporary Culture

This project seminar entails all stages of creating a final product in English (e.g. blog, anthology, twitter fiction, volume of poetry). Students will work in teams in conjunction with their instructor/s on various aspects of the project seminar and become familiar with genre-related practices and contemporary discourses in North America. This seminar combines theoretical foundations with practical applications.

Module 3 (alternative):

Social Sciences
practice-oriented

Confronting Contemporary Society – Excursion

In this project seminar, we put together a study trip to a culturally rich destination in North America. Students plan, coordinate, and carry out the stages of the study trip in conjunction with their instructor/s and reflect on the project upon return. Participants become familiar with contemporary social conflicts and discourses in the region.

Module 4:

Humanities
mediality-oriented

North American Studies Meets the Humanities

In this module, we explore various aspects of culture and literature by critically discussing authentic cultural texts, such as literary works, podcasts, films, and (digital, platform, and network) TV productions. We study North American culture, its institutions, and contemporary discourses. We focus on various themes, modes, and cultural contexts through the interdisciplinary lenses of the liberal arts, e.g. ethnic studies, identity construction, and ethics.

La Francophonie d’Amérique du nord: Langue et identité au Québec. Französisch B2.1-C1 (FSL-SZ)

L’aventure coloniale française en Amérique du Nord s’est terminée il y a de cela 250 ans. Les colons établis dans l’ancienne « Nouvelle-France » ont cependant continué à exister en tant que groupe francophone, notamment au sein du Canada. Qu’est-ce qui a permis à la communauté franco-canadienne de maintenir aussi longtemps sa langue et sa culture dans une Amérique du nord majoritairement anglophone? A travers quels éléments définit-elle son identité? Nous essayerons de répondre à ces questions à travers l'analyse de documents authentiques et nous porterons la discussion sur une définition plus générale de l’identité et de l'appartenance à une communauté nationale/ ethnique.