American studies

American Cities

Module code: T7066
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar, Film
Assessment modes: Essay

Explore the history, culture and significance of a particular US city in detail.

You’ll compare the myths of the city to its realities, from its foundation to its current manifestation. We’ll contextualise the city in terms of the development of the United States and:

• its colonial and expansionist histories
• the urban economy
• its relationship to changing American populations.

We take an interdisciplinary approach. You’ll study history, film, literature, and music to firmly locate the city in its relationship to the national story.

Possible cities include New York, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, depending on teaching in the academic year.

Module learning outcomes

• Critically understand and apply multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of urban and regional culture.
• Evaluate regional distinctiveness and its cultural signifiers.
• Conduct independent research in preparation for problem-solving in written exercise.
• Provide critical commentary on relevant debates in an informed way, and articulate such commentary in a focus group or presentation setting and in written work.