Module Identifier | AS30220 | ||
Module Title | CONTEMPORARY AMERICA | ||
Academic Year | 2002/2003 | ||
Co-ordinator | Dr Martin Padget | ||
Semester | Semester 2 | ||
Pre-Requisite | AS10120 , AS10220 | ||
Co-Requisite | AS30020 , AS30120 | ||
Course delivery | Seminars / Tutorials | 20 Hours 10 x 2 hr | |
Assessment | Semester Exam | 3 Hours | 50% |
Semester Assessment | Essay: 1 essay (2,500 words) | 50% |
- Describe the impact of recent historical events on the politics and culture of late 20th century America
- Demonstrate an understanding of the social and political contexts in which the set material was produced
- Write about the period and culture in a well-structured and well-argued way
- Illustrate their knowledge and views using a variety of examples from the range of disciplines covered during the course
- Demonstrate developing skill in critical analysis
- Demonstrate developing skills in oral presentation
1. Representing the Vietnam War
2. The US and Vietnam, 1945-75
3. The Nature of the Conflict in Vietnam
4. Reagan and the “New Right”
5. The Culture Wars: Religion and Society in Contemporary America
6. The “Underclass” Debate
7. “Greed is Good”
8. A Multicultural Society
9. Polarised Communities
10. Dystopian Visions
Required Reading
Bret Easton Ellis, Less Than Zero
Arturo Islas, The Rain God
Tim O’Brien, In the Lake of the Woods
Required Viewing
Blade Runner (Dir. Ridley Scott, 1982)
Do the Right Thing (Dir. Spike Lee, 1989)
Full Metal Jacket (Dir. Stanley Kubrik, 1987)
Wall Street (Dir. Oliver Stone, 1987)