Universität Wien

340114 VO Text and culture 2 English (2022S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 34 - Translationswissenschaft
REMOTE

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 1000 participants
Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes

This course will be held online throughout the semester. You may use HS3 at the ZTW to follow the lectures online.


Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this course is to gain a profound understanding of how archetypes work in a specific cultural (mainly US) and/or intercultural context and how they can be identified and put to use in everyday human communication and interaction. At the end of the course, students should also be able to make use of these concepts in their own writing.

CONTENT
Apart from different approaches to culture, text and the latest communication theories, we will look at the historic, cultural and social development of the USA through the lens of C.G. Jung's concept of archetypes and the hero's journey, as seen by Joseph Campbell.
As cross-cultural patterns of attaching meaning (transkulturelle Bedeutungsmuster), archetypes lend themselves to explore the roles of typical and atypical characters, events, and concepts/motifs that have shaped the history and culture of the United States during the course of time. We will explore which archetypes can be found around decisive moments and turning points in the country's development, what impact they had on the latter and how they have come to express themselves in various kinds of texts (literature, lyrics, media, advertising etc.).

METHOD
Based on an introduction into concepts around information/text, the latest communication theories and their impact on a particular culture, the course will focus on specific US-related archetypes and their respective past, present and future roles in shaping the country's development. The classical hero's journey - an algorithm for successful storytelling widely used in all genres - will also be discussed in this context. Using selected expamples from classical literature, lyrics, advertising, movies etc., we will also explore to what extent specific US American archetypes have changed and why.

Assessment and permitted materials

A final exam without any supporting materials (no dictionaries or notes needed/allowed) will determine your grade.
Exam will be online unless otherwise specified

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Grades will follow this percentage schedule:
90-100: very good or 1
80-89: good or 2
70-79: average or 3
60-69: passing or 4
below 60 is fail or 5

Examination topics

Material gleaned from class (power points) and mandatory reading/watching material available on Moodle. Own individual research around the topic may secure bonus points.

Reading list

Mandatory reading/watching and further reading suggestions for self-study are available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 11.05.2023 11:28