American Studies in a Global Context

This course will attempt to understand the notion of America in a global context. Our examination will begin with an attempt to understand the global construction of the United States, with specific reference to European colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and the rise of the nation-state. Then, we will examine contemporary theories of the globalization of American culture; we will map the flows of American cultural products and ideas into such locations as West Africa, South Asia, and Turkey itself.