05.866.410 Seminar 410 American Studies: American Humor

Lehrende/r: Dr. Nele Sawallisch

Veranstaltungsart: Seminar

Anzeige im Stundenplan: 05.866.410

Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Credits: 8,0

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 30

Anmeldegruppe: AS 410

Prioritätsschema: Senatsrichtlinie
Zulassung gemäß Richtlinie über den Zugang zu teilnahmebeschränkten Lehrveranstaltungen vom 07. März 2007.

Nähere Informationen hierzu entnehmen Sie bitte www.info.jogustine.uni-mainz.de/senatsrichtlinie

Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches:

• Introduction to American Studies/Literary Studies (115) (for B.A. students)
  
• Written English I 
  
• Proseminar (122)
  
• willingness to perform a lot of reading/viewing and to participate actively in class
  

Inhalt:
This advanced Bachelor class will look at different expressions of “American humor” in literature and visual culture. We will first ask general questions like, “What makes things funny?”, “What is humor, and is there ‘American Humor’?” We will then examine material from literature, late night, sitcoms, stand-up, etc. by different humorists and comedians to consider questions of race, gender, politics, and more.
Course Objectives

STUDY SKILLS:

• perform critical thinking and literary analysis
  
• know how to differentiate between an argumentative thesis and a descriptive statement
  
• know how to formulate a research thesis for a term paper
  
• be able to write a term paper
  
• be able to perform independent research
  
• present research in front of peers
  
• give critical feedback
  

• be able to identify humor theories and strategies
  
• dentify, compare, critically reflect on aesthetic as well as ideological agendas
  

Empfohlene Literatur:
The vast majority of our readings and viewings will be provided to you via ILIAS. Note that you need internet access to Youtube.

However, the last two thirds of the class will make vast use of viewings that are available on Netflix. This includes the sitcoms The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Full House, as well as stand-up and other performances by Hannah Gadsby, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, Michelle Wolf and Ali Wong.
Please note that should you not have access yet to this streaming service, you can use a free trial month to watch all of this material without spending money. I hope this is a workable solution to all of you.