Professional Documents
Culture Documents
American Ideas
American Ideas
Description
In this course, students will be introduced to some of the major ideas that have shaped the
making of the U.S.A. and the meaning of American-ness. Students will read and discuss these
ideas (in essays, speeches, etc.) in connection to cultural texts (novels, films, etc.) that
illustrate the influence of such ideas. The course is designed to provide a historical and
intellectual foundation for studying American culture.
Requirements
Students will take a midterm exam and write a final essay. Students will be expected to
participate in discussions throughout the semester and to give presentations at the end of the
semester.
Course Materials
Course Reader (photocopied)
Network (film)
Cool Hand Luke (film)
The Virginian (novel by Owen Wister)
Do the Right Thing (film)
The Awakening (novel by Kate Chopin)
American Psycho (film)
White Noise (novel by Don DeLillo)
It’s a Wonderful Life (film)
Semester Outline
Week 8: Midterm
Week 14: “Morality and the Liberal Ideal” and “The Procedural Republic and the
Unencumbered Self” (Michael Sandel)
It’s a Wonderful Life