Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Creative Writing: Poetry, Short Fiction, and Beyond. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maria Moss

Termin:
wöchentlich | Freitag | 14:15 - 17:45 | 14.10.2019 - 31.01.2020 | C 5.124 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Interested in awakening your creative spirit and discovering your potential for equally creative output? This seminar puts theory into practice by offering a variety of exercises to ignite ideas, experiment with literary styles and genres as well as give and receive constructive criticism in peer-editing sessions. This seminar will help you develop your own style and voice when writing poetry, flash fiction and/or vignettes, short stories, and a part of a drama. While students will use the Cisneros “snapshot approach” to writing vignettes (e.g. expressing a certain moment, mood, character, or object while creating an atmosphere, not a story), they will initially write poetry by copying the “masters.” Starting out with traditional Japanese Haikus, students will soon move to the great modernists, such as Robert Frost, W.C. Williams, or Gertrude Stein. Students will also read different short stories to see the differences between a more traditional approach (e.g. Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”) to more postmodern methods of writing in authors such as Margaret Atwood, Donald Barthelme, Thomas King, and Lorrie Moore. The last assignment is creating part of a drama: students will begin by finishing scenes from different plays before writing their own act. Very different from a novel, a short story or a poem, a drama focuses almost exclusively on dialogue which delivers the message and thoughts of the author. In the end, students will have a portfolio (for lack of a better name), consisting of 3 Haikus, 3 pieces of short fiction, 3 poems, one short story and/or one act of a drama.

Dramatize This! Reading, Writing, and Performing for the Stage and Screen. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maryann Henck

Inhalt: This seminar is not just for drama kings and queens, but for anyone interested in the link between written and spoken words in general as well as composing and performing dialogues in specific. By examining excerpts from plays, sitcoms, and dramadies, we will explore possibilities for transforming stories into dramatic scenarios. In the following sessions, we will experiment with creative writing techniques that will help you craft dialogues for your own dramatic scenario. The seminar will consist of group peer-editing sessions as well as individual appointments to support you during the creative process. Of course, drama is meant to be performed. Therefore, at the end of the semester, you will be expected to translate your dramatic scenarios into a final mini-performance, e.g. on stage, as street theater, or in sitcom/dramedy format.

Humor in Television, Film and Literature. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Sabrina Völz

Inhalt: There are many kinds and functions of humor. In some cases, humor is meant to entertain or poke fun at something, and in other cases, it is a serious matter, a deadly serious matter. After a brief introduction to incongruity, superiority, and relief theories of humor and English terms in the field of humor studies, we will analyze and learn to have a greater appreciation for humor in British and North American literature and television, approaching the various themes, modes, and cultural contexts through the interdisciplinary lenses of aesthetics, psychology, gender studies, sociology, history, or ethnic studies (where appropriate). A special emphasis will be placed on the situation comedies: I Love Lucy (American) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (Canadian). Comedians (Chris Rock and Hannah Gadsby), British sketch comedy (Mr. Bean or Little Britain), and the role of humor in the short story will also be approached. We will also learn about Native humor and meet Canadian Native playwright and humorist Drew Hayden Taylor. Students will have the opportunity to influence course content through their choice of presentation topics. This content-based seminar will also help students to actively perfect their general English skills. While working on presentation techniques, a special focus will be placed on developing fluency, signposting, pronunciation, and use of voice (pauses, pace, expressiveness, and volume). Moreover, students will have the chance to improve their vocabulary and receive individual and peer feedback on their oral and written skills in English.

Reversing the Gaze: Exploring Culture and Diversity Across Genres. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 4, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maryann Henck

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 13:45 | 14.10.2019 - 31.01.2020 | C 5.311 Seminarraum

Inhalt: In this seminar, critical thinking meets creative writing. Initially, we will explore various aspects of culture and diversity by critically discussing authentic cultural texts which focus on reversing the gaze, i.e. shifting the perspective to the Other’s perception of the dominant culture. Participants will have the opportunity to select from literary and cinematic texts that address contemporary issues, such as the immigrant’s tightrope act between adaptation and assimilation, the tourist/host gaze, the queer gaze, identity construction and politics as well as gender roles and stereotypes in (popular) culture. Since literary and cinematic texts can be viewed as the personal voice of a culture, the characters and course of events in these texts will serve as a springboard to the creative level in which participants can experiment with a variety of creativity and writing techniques geared toward the following objectives: 1. putting themselves into the characters’ shoes 2. giving voices to the voiceless/marginalized in society 3. creating fictive encounters/dialogues between characters to resolve issues related to culture, gender, and diversity 4. drawing parallels between fictive incidents and contemporary issues. In the initial sessions, we address Drew Hayden Taylor’s tragicomedy, Dead White Writer on the Floor (theater of the absurd and murder mystery meet identity politics) as well as Jim Jarmusch’s film Only Lovers Left Alive (a drama about the outsider looking in – in this case, sophisticated vampires' disillusionment with ‘zombified’ humans). In subsequent sessions, participants can select from various texts and genres: Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (novel excerpts and series) as well as her short fiction, Julia Alvarez’ How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (novel excerpts), Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies,” David Leavitt's "Braids,” Hanif Kureishi’s “My Son the Fanatic,” Neil Jordan’s film, Breakfast on Pluto, Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street (various vignettes), Miriam Toews’ Women Talking (novel excerpts), Alison Bechdel's Fun Home as well as essays by Siri Hustvedt and Rebecca Solnit as well as episodes from series such as Rick and Morty and Mad Men.

Taking Care of Business: Meetings, Networking, and Trade Fairs. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Lynette Kirschner

Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 10:15 - 13:45 | 14.10.2019 - 31.01.2020 | C 40.255 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Business isn’t just for business majors. Whether you are studying engineering, cultural studies, sustainability or one of the other majors, you will be part of business. In other words, you will be communicating your ideas to people around the world. But are you ready? This seminar focuses on the international and virtual happenings of business. Using culturally appropriate, informative, and persuasive communication styles in spoken as well as written English is the key to successful business. Short texts excerpts from Paul Krugman, Alerlof and Shiller, Skidelsky and Skidelsky, as well as other authors will be looked at and discussed. These will be used to look at the reasons why business needs various types of communication. Theory will be put to practice when the course exchanges tasks with the Finnish University of Vaasa. Specific emphasis will be placed written competencies (e.g. concise minutes from a meeting, a brief but persuasive business communication, a final progress report), oral competencies (pronunciation enhancement, rhetorical strategies for presenting) as well as culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication (direct and indirect communication styles, use of gestures, time, and space).

The Art of Debate: The Rhetoric of Disagreement (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Paul Lauer

Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 10:15 - 13:45 | 14.10.2019 - 31.01.2020 | C 12.015 Seminarraum

Inhalt: In this seminar you will have the opportunity to develop the rhetorical and linguistic skills needed for critical and argumentative reasoning. You will be able to. In contrast to mainstream debating with its emphasis on scoring points for winning arguments, we are developing a less competitive format with the goal of researching and debating issues in order to find insight into issues of deep importance to you and your fellow students. It is, if you will, an opportunity to leave your “bubble” and question your most deeply held beliefs. Substantial research will be involved in preparing these debates.

U.S.-Canadian Relations: An Uneasy Balance. (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maria Moss

Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 12:15 - 15:45 | 14.10.2019 - 21.10.2019 | C 6.316 Seminarraum
wöchentlich | Montag | 12:15 - 15:45 | 28.10.2019 - 31.01.2020 | C 5.124 Seminarraum

Inhalt: This time around, the focus of the seminar is slightly different. While we will still illuminate important contrasts between Canada and the United States, such as a revolution in the U.S. vs. intensified relations with England in Canada; the U.S. as a Puritan society vs. Canada as a trapper and trader society as well as the vastly differing literary expressions in both countries, special emphasis will be placed on environmental aspects in both countries. And since there will be a symposium on "human-animal studies" in January 2020, special attention will be given to the aspect of "critical animal studies."

Writing With Style: Discovering Your Academic Voice in English. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Sabrina Völz

Inhalt: Ready for a challenge? Feel like giving your writing and speaking skills a fine-tuning? Do you want to find out more about the potential benefits and limitations of digital writing tools, while gaining a deeper understanding of film? If so, then this course might be the course for you. Each participant will gain experience working with a variety of academic texts that can help writers to improve their writing style, editing, and revision skills. Due to the heterogeneity of seminar participants, the instructor will assist students in developing their own writing style and mentor them on an individual basis. Furthermore, academic writing does not have to be boring, mechanical, or dry. Thus, we will take a closer look at sentence variety, voice, and the creative use of language. These are topics that digital writing tools, such as Grammarly, have not yet mastered. After learning about various techniques, course participants will discover the fine art of knowing when and how to use creative approaches in academic writing. Moreover, after a brief introduction to film studies, we will discuss, learn to appreciate, and analyze two historically-oriented African American films. Students will choose among the following: The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), BlacKkKlansman (2018), and The Green Book (2018).

Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Lehrveranstaltungen

Creative Writing: Poetry, Short Fiction, and Beyond. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dramatize This! Reading, Writing, and Performing for the Stage and Screen. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Humor in Television, Film and Literature. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Reversing the Gaze: Exploring Culture and Diversity Across Genres. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 4, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

Taking Care of Business: Meetings, Networking, and Trade Fairs. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

The Art of Debate: The Rhetoric of Disagreement (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

U.S.-Canadian Relations: An Uneasy Balance. (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Writing With Style: Discovering Your Academic Voice in English. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (Seminar)