Which literature did ordinary people in America read during the 1930s and 1940s? What was available? Was it all heavy depression literature or escapist, consumerist trash? Which (perhaps contradictory) discourses did popular literature during the 30s and 40s transport? What was the texts' position on gender roles, the "races", Americanness, the future, consumption, class, religion, personal identities and other fundamentals in constructing reality? And is popular literature subversive or rather affirmative. These are some of the questions we will explore in this seminar. At the same time, we will reflect on the theory of mass culture or popular culture, on the questions which cultural studies ask and the historical, discursive conditions of the time (the Great Depression and World War II). To sum up, we will try to find out what the popular imaginary during the 1930s and the 1940s in America was like. Since we are reading popular fiction, we will have to cover a rather large number of books – so this is something for students who love to read a lot of light literature and dream… You have to read it, but it's worth it, believe me! Viewing/Reading: · Carolyn Keene, The Password to Larkspur Lane (1933) · Zane Grey, Code of the West (1934) · Sax Rohmer, The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) · James M. Cain, Mildred Pierce (1941) · Dashiell Hammett, The Thin Man (1934) · Laura Lee Hope, The Bobbsey Twins at Lighthouse Point (1939) · Raymond Chandler, The Lady in the Lake (1943) · Earl Derr Biggers, Keeper of the Keys (1932) · Langston Hughes, Simple Speaks his Mind (1950) · Movie: King Vidor (dir), Our daily bread (1934) · Comics: Superman, Captain America Requirements: · As a requirement for participation students have to give a background or historical presentation on one of the authors/syndicates/historical topics involved. · In terms of module examinations BA English students will have to write a term paper either in this or in their other seminar of module 13, BA American studies students will have to write a term paper either in this seminar or in "Cultural Representations". You have to register for this class in AGNES and the e-learning platform Moodle (link in Agnes). As a password use "Poplit". In Moodle you will find the syllabus for the class. |
