Lehrende/r: Dr. Claudia Görg
Veranstaltungsart: Übung
Anzeige im Stundenplan: 05.866.211
Semesterwochenstunden: 2
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch
Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 45
Anmeldegruppe: AS 211
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: When the formerly British colonies on the American continent became independent, they were confronted with numerous pragmatic and ideological questions. On a socio-political level, the new nation had to reach a consensus on the political organization and the economic basis of the country. However, the creation of a new national identity requires the development of a cultural memory that is shared by the majority of its population and helps unify the nation. In this context, national heroes, historical events, and historic sites play a crucial role. In this course, we will discuss why and how speciific historical figures (e.g. Pocahontas) and historical events (e.g. the struggle of the Puritan settlers to survive in America and its commemoration in the form of Thanksgiving) have become part of the shared cultural memory. We will analyze these cultural memories or myths by separating actual historical facts from the public narrative. Additionally we will look at why some of the myths and national heroes have become the subjects of critcal debates (e.g. Columbus/Columbus Day).
