Course: American Multiculturalism

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Course title American Multiculturalism
Course code FJC/0383
Organizational form of instruction Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Dumchak Iryna, doc. CSc.
Course content
1. Introduction to the Course and Its Topic 2. Multiculturalism, Migration and/in Literature. Compulsory reading: Ashcroft, R. T., & Bevir, M. What is Postwar Multiculturalism in Theory and Practice? From R. T. Ashcroft, & M. Bevir (Eds.), Multiculturalism in the British Commonwealth: Comparative perspectives on theory and practice. California: University of California Press. (pp.1-22) 3. Multiculturalism in the USA: history, ethnic minorities, literature, immigration Compulsory reading: John Lowe. Multicultural literature in the United States: advent and process. (pp.7-10); Joan Brodsky Schur. The Literature of Immigration and the Lives of Adolescents: Finding Common Ground (pp.32-39) 4. African-American culture in the context of Multiculturalism: history, culture, identities Compulsory reading: Robert B. Stepto. Black American Literature: New presence (pp.26-29); Paul White, ?Migration and Identity Shift? (pp.2-8) 5. Natives in the context of American Multiculturalism: history, culture, identities. 6. European Constituent of American Multiculturalism: immigration, nationalities, citizenship 7. Multiculturalism in Great Britain: immigration, nationality, citizenship Compulsory reading: Ashcroft, R. T., & Bevir, M. 2019. British multiculturalism after empire: Immigration, nationality and citizenship. (pp.25-45) 8. Multiculturalism in Australia: immigration, nationality, citizenship 9. Canadian Multiculturalism: identity, race, ethnicity, nationality and discrimination Compulsory reading: Avigail Eisenberg. Multiculturalism in a Context of Minority Nationalism and Indigenous Rights: The Canadian Case. (pp.67-82) 10. Multiculturalism in New Zealand: immigration, nationality, citizenship 11. Acculturation Compulsory reading: John W. Berry, ?Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures? 12. Constructing the Nation Compulsory reading: Benedict Anderson, ?Introduction? from Imagined Communities 13. Multiculturalism: Non-fiction Compulsory reading: Maya Angelou. An Extract from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 14. Test

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the basic definitions, key approaches in the study of multiculturalism, prerequisites and trends in the formation and development of multiculturalism as a defining pheomenon in the culture of English-speaking countries, such as Gerat Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zeland. Such phenomena as migration, acculturation, minority, identity, race, ethinicty, nationality, prejudice and discrimination as well as the relationshop of these terms to the concepts of nationalism and patriotism are portrayed in a selection of British and American literary-critical texts from the 20th century to the present day.
Through a rigorous and critical reading of these texts students are to gain not only a thorough familiarity with these topical issues, but also a critical vocabulary and a historical perspective to discuss them both insidue and outside the classroom.
Prerequisites
Minimal English language level B1

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Students are required to read all assigned readings before the lesson they are discussed in. Written end-term test covering the full material (theory and fiction) (reading, PPTs) plus ona assigned film: Everything is Iluminated (2005, directed by Liev Schreiber) In addition, students are expected to hold short presentations about each weeks assigned text (2-3 students per topic). 70% attendance In order to pass, students need to reach 70% on average on the test. The test can be retaken once inf necessary.
Recommended literature
  • Richard T.Ashcroft. Multiculturalism in the British Commonwealth. 2019.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester