Special Topics 2: Incarceration

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Special Topics 2: Cultures of American Incarceration
Leerdoelen	By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze the prison as a historical institution which persists through cultural, political, and social practices which problematize naïve mythologies of American exceptionalism and US democracy. They will be able to closely analyze and develop cogent, original arguments about relevant texts, forms, and practices. They will be able to present the above in a well-structured essay.
Omschrijving	Born in the synthesis of homegrown reformist sensibilities and old-world moral philosophy, the modern penitentiary is one of America’s most influential institutional innovations both at home and abroad. Although its seeds were sown by the religious cultures of Northern Protestantism, the prison has always had roots firmly planted in the blighted soil of antebellum slavery. Celebrated for ostensibly curbing the excessive brutality of the state, yet contested since its inception for tampering with the mysteries of the human mind, the prison was originally conceived as a technology for reforming the soul, yet its conquest is now measured only in terms of bodies captured: today, the United States boasts the world’s highest incarceration rate by far. This course will explore the “perverse exceptionalism” of American incarceration through an interdisciplinary mixture of literary, filmic, ethnographic, historical, and sociological sources.
Uren per week	2
Onderwijsvorm	werkcollege
Toetsvorm	actieve participatie, wekelijkse opdrachten (test)
Vaksoort	bachelor jr 2
Coördinator	L.A. Flamand, PhD.
Docent(en)	L.A. Flamand, PhD.
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs Most course titles will be available through the university library or online.
Entreevoorwaarden	80% Mandatory attendance in seminars. Students are expected to participate actively in discussions during seminars and to duly carry out all assignments. This module can be taken as an elective. Major students take precedence.
Opmerkingen
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type Course units for exchange students 2 semester II a verplicht Ba American Studies 2 semester II a keuzegroep