American Literature

Recommended Prerequisites

Proficiency in English.

Teaching Methods

Seminar sessions combine lectures and discussion of texts and other materials proposed for each session, as well as oral presentations by the students.

Learning Outcomes

This seminar will enable students to:

• strengthen their knowledge of the main historical, social, and cultural transformations that contributed to the specificity of American literature;

• understand the diversity of literary forms that are part of the history of American literature;

• develop appropriate theoretical approaches to the literary texts and the topics addressed;

• become aware of the ideological and political dimensions of literature;

• strengthen their critical and analytical skills;

• develop the ability to conduct rigorous and autonomous research in the field.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Approaching American literature as a plurality of voices and expressions developing in the terrain of different economic, political and social contexts within the U.S. society, this seminar will be based on the exploration of a specific topic, or range of topics, with a special emphasis on the 19th and 20th-21st centuries. Topics to be addressed: nation and myth, memory and history, imperialism, immigration and citizenship, politics and power, power and language, centers and margins, public and private. These topics obviously raise large theoretical questions, which this seminar will explore through contemporary theoretical debates.

N.B. The syllabus and bibliography may change depending on teaching staff.

Head Lecturer(s)

Graça Maria Constantino Nunes de Oliveira Capinha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
In-class participation and oral presentations: 40.0%
Synthesis work: 60.0%

Bibliography

Cain, W. E. (ed.) (1996). Reconceptualizing American Literary/Cultural Studies: Rhetoric, History, and Politics in the Humanities. NY: Garland.

Jay, G. S. (1997). American Literature and the Culture Wars. Ithaca: Cornell UP.

Kaplan, Amy & Pease, D. E. (eds.) (1993). Cultures of United States Imperialism. Durham: Duke UP.

King, R. C. (ed.) (2000). Postcolonial America. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 2000.

Morrison, T. (1993). Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination. NY: Random.

Pease, D. E. & Weigman, R. (eds.) (2003). The Futures of American Studies. Durham, NC: Duke UP.

Pease, D. E. (ed.) (1994). National Identities and Post-Americanist Narratives. Durham, NC: Duke UP.

Rowe, J. C. (ed.) (2000). Post-Nationalist American Studies. Berkeley: U of California P.

Ruoff, L. B. & Ward Jr., J. W. (eds.) (1990). Redefining American Literary History. New York: MLA.

Saldívar, J. D. (1997). Border Matters: Remapping American Cultural Studies. Berkeley & LA: U of California P.