Universität Wien
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123426 SE Literary & Cultural Studies Seminar / BA Paper / MA American/North American Lit./Studies (2017S)

Searching for Oneself : Autobiographical Perspectives of European Immigrants in Canada and the USA

11.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 08.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 15.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 22.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 29.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 05.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 26.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 03.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 10.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 17.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 24.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 31.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 07.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 14.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 21.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A
  • Wednesday 28.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-22.A

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Many social and political factors contributed to the migration of hundreds of thousands of Europeans from several countries across the Atlantic and their settlement in Canada and the USA in the late 19th and 20th centuries. In the seminar the challenges selected individuals faced in their attempts to find a new home in North America will be analyzed as they are reflected in the very productive genre of the autobiography and in fictionalized accounts. Thus a significant correlate of a global phenomenon of the early 21st century will be studied in its historical, biographical and cultural contexts.

Assessment and permitted materials

Participants would submit a written seminar paper of 20-22 pages and offer an oral presentation. Regular attendance, active class participation and two written reports on seminar sessions of up to two pages will be expected. There will also be a final written essay test.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students will have to become familiar with a number of texts mirroring the experiences of immigrants from various ethnic groups in Canada and the USA and become aware of the consequences of changes in the official policies in the two countries. Participants in the seminar should understand the frequent generational conflict among the newcomers and the tensions between desired acculturation in the face of nativist opposition and prejudices against migrants and their wish to retain their heritage from the Old World.

Examination topics

Student presentations of research papers on the topics chosen, general discussion of the texts contained in the Reader, including excerpts from autobiographies by Jewish, Icelandic, Ukrainian, Italian and Mennonite writers and several stories mirroring the experience of seeking a new home.

Reading list

The excerpts from the autobiographies and some stories to be considered in class are contained in a Reader to be acquired at Copy Studio.
A reserved shelf (Handapparat) with the complete autobiographies and some relevant studies are accessible on the upper floor of the departmental library. A list of topics for seminar papers has been published on my departmental homepage and volunteers for the first presentations are invited to contact me for confirmation that the topics have not yet been reserved for other participants.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.4-322, BA09.2, 10.2, MA5, MA6, MA7;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0406

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33