In this course, we will explore the ways in which a series of ideas and myths about “America” developed into a field of study, first in the United States and later on globally. By discussing such themes as “Americanness,” “freedom,” “exceptionalism,” “community,” and “transnationalism,” we will contemplate the many beliefs and contradictions embedded in U.S. nationhood. We will begin the semester by asking such basic questions as “What is ‘America and an ‘American’’’ and end by considering how “Americanness” has been understood within the broader world order. From a nation-based approach to transnational approaches, we will look into various watershed moments that have shaped the academic study of the United States and North America. Throughout the course, we will pay close attention to the everyday usage of language and terminology related to the United States and the Americas. The course is a combination of lectures, readings/other materials, and student discussions. The final evaluation is based on a portfolio based on reflections of each of the five themes studied.
- Opettaja
Benita Heiskanen