American Studies and War Studies BA (Hons)

This module will introduce you to American Studies as an interdisciplinary academic subject. We will give you an overview of American literature and culture from the nineteenth century to the present day. You will investigate how American identity has been constructed in relation to the broad social, technological and economic changes which have taken place in this period. The themes we explore will include colonial politics, independence, the myth of the Frontier, issues of race and gender, consumerism and popular culture.

This module is your introduction to War Studies as an academic subject. You will learn about the history of the subject and familiarise yourself with some of the different approaches you will take and techniques you will use throughout the course. We will introduce you to the essential definitions and classifications of war, and you will work to understand what war is, and how and why we study it.

This module will give you a broad understanding of the history of the USA, from both a domestic and an international point of view. You will learn about America’s gradual emergence as a leading international power, economically, militarily and politically. We will explore historical developments in the American experience, including political, social and economic changes. You will consider the continuing tension between unity and diversity in American history, exploring topics such as the Civil War, industrialisation, consumer culture, foreign policy and immigration.

On this module you will focus on how war impacts society. Examining different types of war from different periods will build your skills in comparative analysis. You will also engage with contemporary historical debates about the relationship between war and society. We will examine case studies to discuss themes such as:

• The causes of war
• Who wins wars and why
• The effect of war on technological and historical development
• The role of citizens
• The importance of the state

War makes for dramatic headlines and engaging copy, but there is frequent and often heated debate about the power and the biases of the media in war. On this module you will explore the relationship between warfare and the media. This includes both a discussion of the representation and reporting of war in the media, and consideration of how we can use media to research and understand war.

This module explores the use of film as a source of historical evidence for cultural, social and political change. American Studies is always interdisciplinary in its approach, and film is one of the many mediums we use to explore American history, identity and culture. On this module you will learn the skills of cinematic analysis, which will allow you to make the best use of this important medium. We will also discuss the importance of cinema within American society.

On this module you will tackle the complex question of why wars do or do not occur. We will introduce you to a range of historical and theoretical arguments that attempt to answer this question, and which will be relevant throughout your course. You will investigate this question through analysis of case studies ranging from ancient to present day conflicts. We will encourage you to consider broad themes across these case studies and carry out comparative analysis between them.

This module is a great opportunity to improve your employability and start thinking about your career. You will consider how history, and the skills you have developed by studying it, relate to potential career paths. As part of this module you will participate in a 75 hour work placement. You will need to secure this placement yourself, but you can take advantage of the many connections we have established with heritage organisations in York and the wider region.

*You must choose either History, Community and Culture or Literature at Work

On this module we will encourage you to think about your career options after graduation, and how the skills you are developing can help you to achieve these goals. We will focus on team work and project management skills, as you work in groups to develop, plan and execute a project. Alternatively, you could gain some industry experience with an external workplace placement. Guest speakers will share their experiences and introduce you to a variety of graduate career pathways, potentially including publishing, research, teaching, marketing and journalism.

*You must choose either History, Community and Culture or Literature at Work

On this module you will focus on the wider cultural diplomatic and political aspects of warfare. We will explore major military campaigns fought in Western Europe during the second world war. This includes:

• The German drive to the coast in 1940
• The continuation of the 1940 campaign after Dunkirk
• The projected German Operation Sealion to invade the British Isles and British counter-preparations
• British offensive strategy prior to the Normandy invasion
• The amphibious landing in Normandy in June 1944
• The Battle of the Bulge
• Crossing the Rhine

On this module you will consider the relationship between American literature and the physical and symbolic spaces of its settings. In American culture concepts of space and setting have a particular relevance that dates back to events such as the declaration of independence, the founding of civic spaces, and the Californian gold rush. You will be challenged to think creatively, critically, and innovatively about physical space and literature. In doing so we will explore the relationship between American socio-economic history and the development of a specifically American literary tradition.

On this module you will examine, confront and evaluate the historical debates surrounding the American Civil War. You will learn about the campaigns and strategies of the war itself, as well as its social and political impact and its lasting cultural legacy. You will also consider the social and political forces that have shaped how this period has been retold in historical and pop culture representations. This will open wider discussion about how wars are remembered and commemorated.

On this module you will focus on the experience of African Americans both as enslaved people and in the years following the abolition of slavery. You will learn about the origins, development and abolition of slavery in the USA, assessing the impact and nature of the American slave system. We will discuss contemporary responses of both African Americans and white Americans to slavery, relationships between races after slavery ended, and the emergence of cultural expression among African Americans.

On this module you will explore how America has imagined itself through film, identifying historical patterns, trends and continuities. We examine how American myths and ideologies have dominated attempts to define the national imagination. This could include:

• The mythology of the frontier
• The myth of the open road in the countercultural 1960s
• Regional identities of the south, California, the midwest or New York

On this module you will investigate the experience and impact of war on both civilians and soldiers. We will explore this through a series of case studies focusing on wartime experiences from York and its surrounding area. You will make use of first-hand accounts of battle and cinematic representations of combat, using these sources to explore some of the philosophical questions arising from attempts to understand and depict warfare. A series of tours and walks will help bring the historic resources on our doorstep to life.

On this module you will explore the role, function and evolution of peace organisations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. You will learn about their origin and formation, evaluating the effectiveness of their practices. We will explore a range of primary sources and public debates to investigate the processes behind organisations such as:

• The League of Nations
• The United Nations
• The African Union
• NATO
• The Warsaw Pact
• Amnesty International

On this module you will encounter varied and interesting texts produced within and written about major conflicts of the 20th and early 21st centuries. We will start with depictions of the mechanised horror of the Western Front and progress through representations of:

• The Second World War
• The Spanish Civil War
• Vietnam
• The Troubles in Northern Ireland
• 9/11 and the War on Terror

We will read texts by writers as diverse as Martha Gellhorn, George Orwell and Kurt Vonnegut, and examine the complex relationship between language, experience and memory.

On this module you will examine the history of the United States since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. You will explore a range of issues that have impacted American politics, culture and society in the years since these events. Your learning will be informed by the wider ideological, cultural and political history of the United States.

Topics may include:

• The War on Terror
• Fake news
• LGBTQ+ rights
• American conspiracies such as the birther movement and Q-Anon
• Response to crises such as 2008 recession and the Covid 19 pandemic

On this year-long module you will working independently to research a topic of your choice, using primary sources, cultural literature and advanced secondary sources. It is the culmination of your degree studies, and your chance to explore a topic that you are passionate about. A dissertation supervisor will help you define and develop your project throughout the year.

This module will examine a selection of texts from 20th century American literature, and relate these works to their cultural, social and political backgrounds. We will focus on texts that demonstrate formal innovation and experimentation, and the selection will reflect the variety of twentieth century American experience. You will read Native American, African American and Chinese-American texts alongside literature produced in the wake of radical social change such as Beat writing, Vietnam narratives, and responses to 9/11.

On this module you will explore American history, culture and politics as you consider the ideas and values behind the USA’s military past. We will investigate how Americans have experienced war, and how this experience has been represented in film, literature, music and more. Some of the topics you will encounter include:

• War and American national identity
• Early American war and colonisation
• American military strategy and leadership
• War and rhetoric in American political culture
• The Traumatic impact of war on American soldiers and veterans

This is an opportunity to study a specialist area relating to American Studies, in this case focusing on detective fiction in literature and film. The topics chosen for Special Subject modules are closely related to staff research interest, meaning your work will be aligned with current research. 

Credits: 20

On our Special Subject modules you will investigate an area which our team has a particular specialism in, contributing to research and developing specialist research skills. This Special Subject will focus on the politics, policies and developments related to the office and holders of the American presidency. 

Credits: 20

This module will examine a selection of texts from 20th century American literature, and relate these works to their cultural, social and political backgrounds. We will focus on texts that demonstrate formal innovation and experimentation, and the selection will reflect the variety of twentieth century American experience. You will read Native American, African American and Chinese-American texts alongside literature produced in the wake of radical social change such as Beat writing, Vietnam narratives, and responses to 9/11.

Credits: 20

This is an opportunity to study a specialist area within your chosen historical era. The topics are closely related to staff research interest, meaning your work will be aligned with our current research. This will help you develop your skills in research and historical investigation.

Through these special subject modules you can choose to explore topics such as:

• Special Subject in Military History: War in the East, 1940-45
• Special Subject in War Studies: the Vietnam War
• Special Subject in Modern International History: Origins of the Second World War
• Special Subject in the History of the Cold War: The Korean War