AMERICAN CULTURAL STUDIES MOD. 1

The course is part of the Master’s Degree programs in European, American and Postcolonial Language and Literature and in Language Sciences and aims at providing students with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of contemporary American cultural studies. Students will improve their skills in analyzing heterogeneous materials within their historical and cultural contexts. The analytical skills students have learnt during the BA course will be further verified and developed, to include more specialized knowledge of critical theory. In addition, they will broaden their experience in working autonomously and in presenting the results of their own research.

The learning outcomes of the course are 1. development of knowledge and understanding of the key works in American cultural studies; 2. the skill to apply this knowledge and understanding to other materials; 3. the development of advanced communication skills in English; 4. autonomous formulation of judgements in analyzing primary and secondary texts; 5. ability to work synergically with other students.

Advanced knowledge of oral and written English (≥ C1).

The course aims at discussing major theories in tourism studies and eventually analysing US travellers' experience of the city of Venice in a series of significant texts from the late 19th century to today.

Selected texts by Daniel Boorstin, Dean MacCannell, Erik Cohen, John Urry
Excerpts from Robert C. Davis & Garry R. Marvin, Venice: The Tourist Maze (2004)
William Dean Howells, from Venetian Life (1866)
Henry James, from Italian Hours (1909)
Mary McCarthy, from Venice revisited (1956) + «The cicerone» (1950)
David Lean, dir. Summertime (1955)
Patricia Highsmith, Those Who Walk Away (1967, suggested edition: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1994)
Joseph Brodskij, Watermark (1989, suggested edition: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1992)


Other critical texts available on Moodle

1. Group presentations in which students are required to show their skills in working together and analyzing the material on the syllabus in a critical and autonomous way. (30% of the final grade)
2. Oral exam (30 minutes max.) in which students will be evaluated in their ability to analyze and contextualize the assigned material in a critical and autonomous way. The level of English and communication skills will also be evaluated. (70% of the final grade)
Non-attending students will be required to study further materials.

Lectures, seminars, screenings and class discussion

English

Students are invited to attend the lectures and conferences organized by the American studies section.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development