Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Lingue e Letterature straniere e Culture moderne

This course aims at presenting the students with key literary and cultural texts produced in the U.S. in the 18th,  19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The course is thematic, focuses on literary and visual texts, and uses contributions from cultural studies, histories, the social sciences, visual and urban studies as its field of reference. Students will develop reading, comprehension and critical response skills, as well as the ability to differentiate among literary genres and to critically discuss those texts in ways that are not merely descriptive, but also critical and analytical.

See here: https://cosmopolitanamerica.edublogs.org/

Development of critical tinking, and skills for individual study and learning. Development of critical and analytical tool to understand the 18th 19th, 20th and 21st century US culture and literature. Development of critical and cultural skills applied to the texts being analyzed.

COURSE TITLE: Cosmopolitan America

COURSE SCHEDULE: 2nd semester.

COURSE BLOG There is an official blog and bullettin board for this class. Students are required to refer to the course blog regularly during the semester, and refer to it for any changes and updates to thus syllabus. Course registration (via link on the course blog) is MANDATORY for all. The blog link will appear here in early Jan. 2024.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

COSMOPOLITAN AMERICA

This course will look at the ways in which the Atlantic revolutions and the cosmopolitan ideals influenced 19th century American culture. During the course of the semester we will read works of the early Republican period and the 19th century. The purpose of this course is to examine American culture from its beginnings to mid-nineteenth century, and to understand its various historical, cultural and discursive contexts. In addition to studying the Atlantic context and the circulation of revolutionary ideas, and cosmopolitan concepts, we will consider how the emergence of economic liberalism in the early republic is tied to developments in print culture and authorship. Literary movements and styles such as sentimentalism, Romanticism, and the gothic will be considered in relation to the circulation of revolutionary ideas and ensuing paranoia or conservative backlash.

PREREQUISITES: Good proficiency in written and spoken English, a desire to learn and participate in classroom activity, and a curiosity for all things American highlight the ideal profile of students in this course.

Please visit the course's blog: https://cosmopolitanamerica.edublogs.org/

Multimedia classroom sessions
Screening of audio-visual materials
Discussions of key-course texts
Student presentations

Class partcipation and discussion of the relevant texts. Two written exams (offered both during the course), one final oral interview.

Lectures and seminars with visiting speakers, when available

For students with physical disabilities, dyslexia, and other specific learning difficulties, please visit the University's support page (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilita) and admission information (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsaopen_in_newopen_in_new).

The procedures for requesting support during exams can be found here: https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con