Anglo-American Cultural Studies
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The main goal of this course is to provide some methodological tools of cultural studies and apply them to understand and analyse cultures connected to the Anglo-American linguistic contexts.
To this end, the course aims to enable students to:
- understand a set of cultural practices and productions applied to the Anglo-American contexts; - understand and describe the key cultural concepts of the country or area studied, using the methodological tools acquired;
- read, analyse and interpret texts and cultural practices and productions related to the Anglo-American contexts;
- understand the historical, political, social and cultural background related to the cultural practices studied.
To this end, the course aims to enable students to:
- understand a set of cultural practices and productions applied to the Anglo-American contexts; - understand and describe the key cultural concepts of the country or area studied, using the methodological tools acquired;
- read, analyse and interpret texts and cultural practices and productions related to the Anglo-American contexts;
- understand the historical, political, social and cultural background related to the cultural practices studied.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- use the specific language and skills of Anglo-American cultural studies, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- apply this subject-specific language to mediation practices, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- use cultural skills to develop an aptitude for inclusion practices;
- read, critically analyse, summarise and compare cultural practices and productions in the Anglo-American contexts studied;
- develop intercultural and interdisciplinary connections, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme.
- use the specific language and skills of Anglo-American cultural studies, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- apply this subject-specific language to mediation practices, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- use cultural skills to develop an aptitude for inclusion practices;
- read, critically analyse, summarise and compare cultural practices and productions in the Anglo-American contexts studied;
- develop intercultural and interdisciplinary connections, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
This course examines California as both a real place and a cultural idea, exploring how it has been imagined, represented, and mythologized in literature, film, photography, and journalism. California is a region of contrasts: a hub of biodiversity and innovation, a symbol of opportunity and reinvention, a site of social unrest and environmental vulnerability. We will explore how these tensions have shaped California's image in the 20th century through key historical moments and cultural texts.
For topics and readings, see the Class Itinerary.
For topics and readings, see the Class Itinerary.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge of Cultural Studies or the history and culture of the United States is required.
As for English language skills, students are expected to be able to understand the main thematic and stylistic features of selected texts (narrative, journalistic, essayistic, or cinematic) and to express the key concepts they wish to communicate in English, even in a simple form.
As for English language skills, students are expected to be able to understand the main thematic and stylistic features of selected texts (narrative, journalistic, essayistic, or cinematic) and to express the key concepts they wish to communicate in English, even in a simple form.
Teaching methods
· All teaching is delivered in English
· Combination of lectures and seminar-style discussions
· Possible guest speakers on selected topics
· Optional trip to photo exhibit - TBD
· Combination of lectures and seminar-style discussions
· Possible guest speakers on selected topics
· Optional trip to photo exhibit - TBD
Teaching Resources
Primary Texts (Required)
Please use any unabridged edition of the following novels:
· John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men (1937)
· James M. Cain, Mildred Pierce (1941)
These novels may be read in Italian translation; however, both in-class readings and analyses, as well as the exam, will be based solely on the English version.
Supplementary Materials (Optional)
Essays & Excerpts
· Jack London, "The Story of an Eye-Witness" (1906)
· Joan Didion, "The White Album" (1979)
· Amy Tan, "Jing-Mei Woo" from The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Photography
· Dorothea Lange, An American Exodus (1939)
Films & Documentaries
· Mildred Pierce (1945), dir. Michael Curtiz
· Mildred Pierce (2011), dir. Todd Haynes
· Imperial Valley (2018), dir. Lukas Marxt
· Marine Target (2022), dir. Lukas Marxt
Required Critical Readings (Choose 4)
Select any 4 chapters or articles from the list below based on your interests. These are available via Open Access on Minerva, but for Faragher's book.
Historical & Cultural/Literary Context
· John Mack Faragher, California: An American History (Yale UP, 2022)
Recommended chapters for Midterm Preparation: 1, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36
· Blake Allmendinger (ed.), A History of California Literature (Cambridge UP, 2015) (Minerva)
o "The Protest Fiction of Frank Norris, Upton Sinclair, Jack London, and John Steinbeck" - Shillinglow
o "The Hard-boiled California Novel" - Marling
Focused Literary Analysis
· Barbara Heavlin (ed.), Critical Insights: Of Mice and Men (Grey House, 2017) (Minerva)
o "A Brief Chronology of Events in John Steinbeck's Life" - Harmon
o "The Migrant Bunkhouse in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men" - Donohue
· Catherine Jurca, White Diaspora: The Suburb and the Twentieth-Century American Novel (Princeton UP, 2011) (Minerva)
o "Mildred Pierce's Interiors"
· Kevin R. McNamara (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Literature of Los Angeles (Cambridge UP, 2010) (Minerva)
o "Postwar Los Angeles: Suburban Eden and the Fall into History" - O'Donnell
o "The Literature of Urban Rebellion" - Murphett
Additional Requirement for Non-Attending Students
In addition to the materials above, non-attending students must also read:
· John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
Please use any unabridged edition of the following novels:
· John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men (1937)
· James M. Cain, Mildred Pierce (1941)
These novels may be read in Italian translation; however, both in-class readings and analyses, as well as the exam, will be based solely on the English version.
Supplementary Materials (Optional)
Essays & Excerpts
· Jack London, "The Story of an Eye-Witness" (1906)
· Joan Didion, "The White Album" (1979)
· Amy Tan, "Jing-Mei Woo" from The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Photography
· Dorothea Lange, An American Exodus (1939)
Films & Documentaries
· Mildred Pierce (1945), dir. Michael Curtiz
· Mildred Pierce (2011), dir. Todd Haynes
· Imperial Valley (2018), dir. Lukas Marxt
· Marine Target (2022), dir. Lukas Marxt
Required Critical Readings (Choose 4)
Select any 4 chapters or articles from the list below based on your interests. These are available via Open Access on Minerva, but for Faragher's book.
Historical & Cultural/Literary Context
· John Mack Faragher, California: An American History (Yale UP, 2022)
Recommended chapters for Midterm Preparation: 1, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36
· Blake Allmendinger (ed.), A History of California Literature (Cambridge UP, 2015) (Minerva)
o "The Protest Fiction of Frank Norris, Upton Sinclair, Jack London, and John Steinbeck" - Shillinglow
o "The Hard-boiled California Novel" - Marling
Focused Literary Analysis
· Barbara Heavlin (ed.), Critical Insights: Of Mice and Men (Grey House, 2017) (Minerva)
o "A Brief Chronology of Events in John Steinbeck's Life" - Harmon
o "The Migrant Bunkhouse in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men" - Donohue
· Catherine Jurca, White Diaspora: The Suburb and the Twentieth-Century American Novel (Princeton UP, 2011) (Minerva)
o "Mildred Pierce's Interiors"
· Kevin R. McNamara (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Literature of Los Angeles (Cambridge UP, 2010) (Minerva)
o "Postwar Los Angeles: Suburban Eden and the Fall into History" - O'Donnell
o "The Literature of Urban Rebellion" - Murphett
Additional Requirement for Non-Attending Students
In addition to the materials above, non-attending students must also read:
· John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath (1939)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment
Attending Students
· Optional Midterm Exam (after Unit 1):
o One open-ended written question (in English)
o If passed, Unit 1 is excluded from the final oral exam
o Valid from January 2025 to January 2026
o Contributes to final grade
Non-Attending Students / Students Not Taking the Midterm
· Final Oral Exam covering all required materials (in English)
Attending Students
· Optional Midterm Exam (after Unit 1):
o One open-ended written question (in English)
o If passed, Unit 1 is excluded from the final oral exam
o Valid from January 2025 to January 2026
o Contributes to final grade
Non-Attending Students / Students Not Taking the Midterm
· Final Oral Exam covering all required materials (in English)
L-LIN/11 - ANGLO - AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Scarpino Cinzia
Professor(s)