American Studies 156b
Trans-Atlantic Crossings: America & Europe
Block D
Spring 2015
Mr. Whitfield
M W Th 11-11:50
This seminar is designed to elucidate how the United States--as a promise, as a
dream, as a cultural projection--has interacted with the rest of the world (but
primarily with Europe, and especially Western Europe). How this republic has
been the source of ideals, how it has exerted symbolic impact, will be subjected
to historical analysis. The focus will be less on the flow of people than on the
flow of ideas, less on the instruments of foreign policy than on the institutions
promoting visions of democracy, individual autonomy, power and abundance.
1)
M Jan 12
I love my country . . . but I think we should be seeing other
people (bumper sticker spotted in Cambridge, Ma.)
Introduction
No assignment
2)
W Jan 14
The course and discourse of empire
Discuss: Henry R. Luce, "The American Century"
3)
Th Jan 15
Complete discussion of Luce, “American Century”
4)
W Jan 21
The strategy of peace
See: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums (1966)
5)
Th Jan 22
6)
M Jan 26
"I have been over into the future, and it works" (Lincoln
Steffens)
Discuss Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Part
One, Author's Introduction, chapters II-IV, IX-XII, XIV
I
Continue discussion of Democracy in America, I, chapters
XVI-XVIII
7)
W Jan 28
Discuss Democracy in America, Part Two, Books I-II
8)
Th Jan 29
Discuss Democracy in America, Part Two, Books III-IV
9)
M Feb 2
“Well, they said you was high class/But that was just a lie”
(Lieber & Stoller, “Hound Dog”)
Discuss: Henry James, Daisy Miller
10)
W Feb 4
The complex fate of expatriation
Discuss: Iain Softley (director), The Wings of the Dove
2
11)
Th Feb 5
An American brat
Begin discussion of Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
12)
M Feb 9
Complete discussion of Lolita
13)
W Feb 11
FIRST EXAMINATION
14)
Th Feb 12
Max Weber's America
Discuss: Marianne Weber, Max Weber, pp. 279-304
15)
M Feb 23
Why were we in Vienna?
Discuss: Carol Reed (director), The Third Man
16)
W Feb 25
Why were we in Vietnam?
Begin discussion of Graham Greene, The Quiet American
17)
Th Feb 26
Complete discussion of The Quiet American
18)
M Mar 2
Building a better mousetrap: lecture on Disney's theme
parks at home and abroad
No assignment
19)
W Mar 4
France's America: lecture on French visitors from the
Marquis de Lafayette to Bernard-Henri Lévy
No assignment
20)
Th Mar 5
Simone de Beauvoir's America
Discuss: Simone de Beauvoir, America Day by Day
21)
M Mar 9
Cards of identity
Discuss: James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son, part III
22)
W Mar 11
The question of cultural imperialism
Begin discussion of Richard H. Pells, Not Like Us
23)
Th Mar 12
Continue discussion of Not Like Us
24)
M Mar 16
Complete discussion of Not Like Us
25)
W Mar 18
The United States and Germany
No assignment
26)
Th Mar 19
SECOND EXAMINATION
3
27)
M Mar 23
The United States and France
Begin discussion of Richard Kuisel, Seducing the French
28)
W Mar 25
Complete discussion of Seducing the French
29)
Th Mar 26
The United States and the Netherlands
Discuss: Rob Kroes, If You've Seen One, You've Seen the
Mall, chapters 1-3, 9
30)
M Mar 30
The United States and Austria
Discuss Reinhold Wagnleitner, Coca-Colonization and the
Cold War, chapters 1-2, 8-9
31)
W Apr 1
The United States and China: lecture on Henry R. Luce and
Theodore H. White
No assignment
32)
Th Apr 2
The United States and Spain
Discuss: Woody Allen (director), Vicky Cristina Barcelona
33)
M Apr 13
The question of American exceptionalism
Discuss: Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr., Paths to the Present,
chapters 1, 3
34)
W Apr 15
The question of American exceptionalism, cont.
Discuss: Daniel J. Boorstin, America and the Image of
Europe, pp. 11-61
35)
Th Apr 16
Planet Hollywood
Begin discussion of Benjamin R. Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld
36)
M Apr 20
Complete discussion of Jihad vs. McWorld
37)
W Apr 22
Globalization, or Americanization?
Discuss: Thomas L. Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive
Tree, pp. ix-324
38)
Th Apr 23
Complete discussion of The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Parts
3-4
39)
M Apr 27
Conclusion
No assignment
4
Among the requirements are a third examination, covering all material since the
second examination, as well as a paper, of 7-10 pages, on a single book--a
novel, a memoir, a diary, etc.--that was written by a foreign (or foreign-born)
observer or a visitor whose encounter with America has resonated.
The deadline for submission of the paper will be Thursday, April 30, by the end of
class. No late papers will be accepted, and no exceptions will be permitted
(apart from medical reasons). WARNING: The grade assigned to the course
paper will be dramatically reduced should glaring lapses of proofreading or errors
of grammar appear.
A seminar such as “America in the World” depends for its success upon the full
preparation and participation of all the students who are enrolled in it. From all,
contributions to class discussions are expected; astuteness in discussions will be
rewarded. No absenteeism whatsoever is permitted. The instructor alone
determines what constitutes "absenteeism."
The following books are available for purchase in the campus bookstore:
Barber, Benjamin R.
Beauvoir, Simone de
Friedman, Thomas L.
Greene, Graham
James, Henry
Kuisel, Richard
Nabokov, Vladimir
Pells, Richard H.
Tocqueville, Alexis de
Jihad vs. McWorld
America Day by Day
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
The Quiet American
Daisy Miller
Seducing the French
Lolita
Not Like Us
Democracy in America
These books are also available on reserve at the Goldfarb-Farber Library. All
other assignments are available in LATTE.
Do not use laptops in class; they are distracting. Cellphones and smartphones
are not permitted either.
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University
and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please
see me immediately.
Office hours are held in Brown Social Science Building 314 and are normally
Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p. m., or by appointment (ext. 63035).