BA Seminar: American Literature in the Times of Crisis

B.Sc. seminars
obligatory courses

Broad in scope, this seminar explores how American literature has been responding to various forms of crises across history. It emphasizes the role of American authors as cultural critics and innovators, who in their works engage with such subjects as war and pandemic, environmental crisis, racial and social injustice, or migration and border crisis. While exploring the intricate connections between literature, history, and society, we will address the following questions: What are the functions of literature in times of crises? What are the connections between crisis, socio-cultural change, and literary experimentation? How do responses to crises vary across fiction, poetry, documentary and reportage, or graphic novels? What new modes of thinking and expression have been emerging out of the moments of crisis?

Broad in scope, this seminar explores how American literature has been responding to various forms of crises across history. It emphasizes the role of American authors as cultural critics and innovators, who in their works engage with such subjects as war and pandemic, environmental crisis, racial and social injustice, or migration and border crisis. While exploring the intricate connections between literature, history, and society, we will address the following questions: What are the functions of literature in times of crises? What are the connections between crisis, socio-cultural change, and literary experimentation? How do responses to crises vary across fiction, poetry, documentary and reportage, or graphic novels? What new modes of thinking and expression have been emerging out of the moments of crisis? The final reading list will be discussed with seminar participants and reflect their specific research interests across literary and cultural studies. This is a practice-oriented seminar, which fosters interdisciplinary thinking and equips students with research and argumentation skills which are essential for writing a strong BA thesis.

The final reading list will be discussed with seminar participants and reflect their specific research interests across literary and cultural studies.

KNOWLEDGE

- is familiar with the form and structure of BA thesis

- knows how to integrate source materials into his/her thesis

- knows how to plan the process of writing each chapter

SKILLS

- can critically approach literary texts and texts of culture

- can formulate an effective thesis statement and develop consistent argumentation

- can analyze and effectively implement feedback from both the instructor and his/her peers

- can edit and proofread BA thesis chapters based on the received comments and feedback

COMPETENCES

- can work in group and actively participate in discussion on complex and often controversial socio-cultural issues while respecting other students’ opinions

- understands a broader historical and cultural significance of American literature

To pass the seminar, the students need to participate in classes, present their research findings, and submit draft and revised versions of thesis chapters.