Course Schedule
Lehrveranstaltungen
Britain: Before and After the Brexit (Seminar)
Dozent/in: Svea Wucherpfennig
Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 11:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 16.223 Seminarraum | .
Inhalt: Britain's relations with continental Europe reach back into prehistory when a wide land bridge enabled settlers to move easily from continental Europe to what is now Britain. As temperatures rose after the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago Britain was finally cut off from the continent. But in spite of the barrier of the Channel, Britain - the United Kingdom and its constituent nations - and the countries of continental Europe have over the intervening period enriched each others lives, fought each other in numerous wars and co-operated in trying to find solutions to European problems. Today the United Kingdom is a multi-faceted, dynamic nation with a rich heritage and an amazing ability to reinvent inself. London for example used to be the hub of an empire and is still a major financial centre. British culture, its film industry and thriving pop, fashion or clubs is as widely known as the British countryside and the Britons' originality when it comes to customs and traditions. This course will look at a variety of aspects: the concept of "Britain" and the UK, the nation's traditions and changes, its cultural identity and diversity, national stereotypes, the troubled relationship between Britain and Germany and Britain's ongoing process of leaving the European Union.
Introducing Ireland (Seminar)
Dozent/in: Michael Schumacher
Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 14:15 - 15:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 4.215 Seminarraum
Inhalt: In this seminar we will look at Irish society and culture. We will examine how its traditions and unique history impact the modern Republic of Ireland. In order to do so, we will look at early Irish myths, the way the British rule over Ireland impacted the land as well as have a look at the struggle for independence and reunification. The material for this seminar encompasses literary texts, visual media and digital sources.
Introducing North American Studies (Seminar)
Dozent/in: Maria Moss
Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 16:15 - 17:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 5.311 Seminarraum
Inhalt: The North American continent is one of the most diverse places in the world with a rich immigrant history, a vibrant political culture, and an influential media and arts industry. After a general introduction to North American Studies, we will concentrate on the following topics: Native cultures and the oral tradition; European colonization and immigration; Canada-U.S. relations (settlement patterns, ecological movements, and literary cultures); mainstream and marginalized voices that – encouraged by the social movements of the 1960s – enriched both the political debates and the literatures of North America. Apart from traditional academic texts, we will also examine non-academic texts, such as blogs, newspapers, songs and political cartoons.
U.S. Politics (Seminar)
Dozent/in: Taieb Oussaifi
Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 11:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 12.112 Seminarraum
Inhalt: In this seminar, we will explore the political and cultural scene of the United States in an accessible, entertaining and thought-provoking way. Throughout the different themes and topics (see: seminarplan) that we will study together, we will think critically about U.S. government and politics along two tracks: - domestic policies: analyze the interplay between the different institutions and government bodies in the United States - foreign policies: analyze U.S. foreign policy and think critically about America's global position This seminar will help you: - build a considerable body of knowledge on practical politics in the United States - develop sound analytical and reasoning skills to dispel misconceptions, look beyond stereotypes and analyze/ deconstruct discourse properly
Understanding Area Studies (Seminar)
Dozent/in: Sabrina Völz
Termin:
wöchentlich | Donnerstag | 16:15 - 17:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 12.010 Seminarraum
Inhalt: This introduction to area studies is designed to provide students with an understanding of key terminology and readings in the field of area studies. Course participants will become familiar with and learn to analyze and apply approaches to / models for interpreting culture. Practical applications and goals for the classroom will also be discussed. This semester, our cultural-specific part of the course will focus on the current controversy surrounding Winnetou, cancel culture, and cultural appropriation. Apart from other materials, we will analyze Searching for Winnetou (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvM4V6HLJAI), a 2018 documentary by Award-winning Canadian playwright, author, and journalist, Drew Hayden Taylor, a member of Curve Lake First Nations. He will hopefully be visiting our campus in November.