Pages de Jean Kempf — Université Lumière - Lyon 2 — Département d'études du monde anglophone


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Introduction to the Cultural History of the United States
DELUSA  -  IEP de Lyon


This course addresses the two meanings of "culture" (see lecture 1): the practices that bind a group/people together, and the cultural artifacts/productions of a group/people. We will deal with ideas, values but also with "cultural" places such as museums or cultural issues such as intellectual property.
It is intended as an introduction to a complex field and one which is often caricatured. The approach will be that of cultural history (see Ory below).

Students are expected to prepare for class by reading the assigned material (see links to relevant pages in the syllabus).

The final written exam will consist in 2 essay questions on the issues discussed in class.

Basic bibliography:
  • Pascal Ory, L’Histoire culturelle, Que-sais-je, PUF, 2007.
  • Frédéric Martel, De la Culture en Amérique, Gallimard, 2006.
  • Denis Lacorne (dir.), Les Etats-Unis, Fayard, 2006.
Also for those interested in American literature:
  • Pierre-Yves Pétillon, La Grand-route. Espace et écriture en Amérique, Seuil, 1979.
Syllabus (title of lectures may change slightly)
  1. Sept 13: Culture, values, stereotypes.
  2. Sept 20: Situating American culture
  3. Sept 27: Situating American culture. Readings
  4. Oct 4: American exceptionalism. Readings
  5. Oct 11: American exceptionalism. Readings
  6. Oct 18: Freedoms. Readings
  7. Nov 8: Freedoms. Readings
  8. Nov 15: Freedoms. Readings
  9. Nov 22: Memory, commemorations and civil religion.Readings
  10. Nov 29: Memory, commemorations and civil religion. Readings
  11. Dec 6: Culture and the State. American museums (please read handout).
  12. Dec 13:  Final Exam (written, 2h)

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