When we think of the American Nineteen-Thirties we think of the economic crisis and the New Deal. We think of Steinbeck and Gone with the Wind. Perhaps we think of Roosevelt's attempt at nation building with the help of the WPA-arts programs. But beyond or beneath these "highlights" (or lowlights) popular and mass culture actually reached their first Golden Age during this time, partaking of the differentiation of culture(s), the commodification of popular practicies, the nationalization of tastes and the industrialization of cultural demands. In this seminar we will have a look at various instances of cultural production: from Flash Gordon to Superman, from Jewish culture to African American practices, from Swing to girl and boy detectives, from Nancy Drew to Hardboiled Private Eyes to Softboiled Screwball heroes.
Course Requirements are active participation and cooperation in a research sub-group on one of the topics. For the MAP you will have to write a term (research) paper with relevance to one of your seminars in the module.
There will be a moodle page, keyword "Hell". No registration through Agnes! |
