American Studies Classes

Core Courses

 

AMST 115 Introduction to American Studies: The Immigrant Experience

A team-taught, comparative study of the experience of migrants and immigrants to America and other countries. The course will investigate such general topics as the causes of emigration; acculturation and assimilation; changes in family structure and gender roles; the role of religion; discrimination; the representation of ethnic and racial groups in literature and film, and the dilemmas of creating an equitable federal immigration policy.6 credits, RAD,ND, Spring - C. Clark, B. Nagel

AMST 345 Methods in American Studies

An introduction to some of the animating debates within American Studies from the 1930s to the present. This course will study select themes, theories, and methodologies in the writings of a number of scholars in the field and try to understand 1) the often highly-contested nature of debates about how best to study American culture; and 2) how various methods have evolved and transformed themselves over the last seventy years. The course is not designed to be a fine-grained institutional history of American Studies, but a vigorous exploration of some of the central questions of interpretation in the field. This course will normally be taken by majors in their junior year.6 credits, ND, Spring - M. Kowalewski

AMST 396 Postmodern America

 An intensive interdisciplinary exploration of contemporary American popular culture in the context of current social, economic, and technological changes. We will examine contemporary society and manners through the lens of advertising, television shows, journalism, popular music, movies, documentaries, and spectacle events. We will see how such topics are illuminated by novelists, sociologists, historians, economists, geographers, and cultural studies theorists. Our goal as a class will be to develop standards suitable for critically assessing representations of contemporary society. Prerequisite: American Studies 345. 6 credits, ND, Fall - M. Kowalewski

AMST 400 Comprehensive Exercise

You've heard everyone talking about it for the past three years. It makes your stomach turn to think about it. And now it's your turn. Don't panic! The comps experience is significantly less daunting when working closely with other majors. The American Studies comps seminar not only provides the structure students need to ensure a successful and relatively enjoyable comps experience, it also establishes a camaraderie among the majors. The class meets periodically throughout winter term, leading the students through the process with a series of deadlines: the first is a presentation of the thesis, each of which are discussed among the majors for the benefit of the presenter; the second is a presentation of the first ten pages of the paper. These meetings allow the majors to discuss, question, and make suggestions to one another.  6 credits, S/NC, ND, Winter - R. Keiser

 

Special Courses

AMST 127 Introduction to Latina/o Studies

What is Latina/o Studies? How is it distinct and similar to Latin American Studies? How are they "remapping" the Americas? What impact are Latinos having upon the U.S. urban landscape? How are Latinos constructed in the popular media? Utilizing an interdisciplinary framework, this course will discuss the emergence of Latina/o studies in the academy and its relationship to community activism. In addition, we will analyze how different Latina/o popular cultural expressions, such as music, mural art, sport, theatre, and film are used to construct a collective Latino identity and consciousness. Guest speakers and multi-media presentations will complement in-class discussions. 6 Credits, ND, Fall - Valentín-Escobar

AMST 129 Latina/o Popular Music in the Age of Globalization

This course is designed to analyze the recent national and global "Latino music boom" within a historical, inter/pan-Latino, and cultural studies perspective. While once contained within marginal locations, markets, and venues, Main-Street America is now listening and dancing to music performed by Carlos Santana, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony. Moreover, Latino music has also traversed the Pacific, European, West African and Middle-Eastern soundscpaes. During the course of the semester, we will critically analyze the globality and the globalizing of Latina/o popular music(s) within and beyond the U.S. as well as interrogate its impact on Latino communities. 6 Credits, ND, Spring - Valentín-Escobar

AMST 320 Diasporic Musical Cultures

This seminar will analyze various Afro-Latino musical genres of the Circum-Atlantic Caribbean and its Latina/o Diaspora, including salsa, merengue, bachata, bomba, plena, boogaloo, Latin jazz and rap. Employing interdisciplinary perspectives, we will read and discuss various theories of popular music proceeded by a comprehensive examination of some of the key texts in the field of Latina/o popular music. A background in cultural and Latino studies will be helpful. Guest Speakers, multi-media presentations, and if possible, a field trip will complement in-class discussions. 6 Credits, ND, Spring - Valentín-Escobar 

Topical Courses

Please note that Topical Courses can be, but need not be, crosslisted with American Studies in order to count as a Topical Course. Only the courses list in the link below will count as a Topical Course (by term).

See Topical Courses for Spring 2003

 

 

Last modified:February 21, 2003
Contact: T.Little