America in the 40s: culture and society

Course Dates: 09/05/23 - 13/06/23
Time: 18:00 - 19:45
Location: Online
The bombing of Pearl Harbor brought Americans into WW2, while the European need for goods pulled the USA out of the Depression of the 30s, providing new opportunities for women, African Americans and other people of colour. Post-War America saw a new energy, of hope but also despair. This online intertextual course explores the political, social and cultural context of 1940s America through a study of the literature, history, music, film and art of the period. With different tutors for each specialism, the course provides a 'taster' in each subject as a gateway to further study in understanding this fascinating period in American culture and society.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Download
Book your place
In stock
SKU
200700
Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £71.00

This course has now started

Course Code: HCC04

Started Tue, eve, 09 May - 13 Jun '23

Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

This online intertextual course explores the political, social and cultural context of 1940s America through a study of literature, history, music, film and art of the period. With different tutors for each specialism, the course provides a 'taster' in each subject as a gateway to further study in understanding this fascinating period in American culture and society.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

09 May - Literature (tutor: Patricia Sweeney)
An exploration of how the ethnic, regional and social character of literature changed in the post-war period.

16 May - History (tutor: Mark Malcomson)
Presidents, politics and foreign policy of the decade

23 May- History (tutor: Dale Minishima Lowe)
Popular culture, the workforce during WW2, post-war consumerism and recovery

30 May - Music (tutor: Trish Shaw)
The era of bebop, big bands and crooners, how country music moved from the hills to the mainstream, and the pioneers of experimental music.

06 June - Art (tutor: Ian Tucknott)
The birth of the Abstract Expressionist movement; key figures in emergent art movements, including Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman and Arshile Gorky.

13 June - Film (tutor: Mick McAloon)
Hollywood’s first “golden age” continued into the 1940s but as the decade progressed, attendance fell and a new kind of film emerged: questioning, cynical, and violent—otherwise known as “film noir”.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

-Understand how America changes socially, economically and politically during this period
-Understand the historical context of the war years and the post-war period
-Explore the literary and dramatic works of the period
-Develop an awareness of how the film and motion picture industry developed in the 40s
-Appreciate the context in which the music and art of the time developed.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Anyone with an interest in American culture and society is welcome.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Sessions will range from a formal lecture on Presidential history of the 40s, to short lecture and class discussion in large and small groups. Film extracts will be shown where appropriate. Please read or view what is set on Google Classroom before each session to get the maximum enjoyment out of the classes.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Materials will be provided and/or links will be given for designated sessions. Bring a pen and paper or tablet for notes.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Look for other culture courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture and Writing/Culture.

Pauline Greene See more See less
Mark Malcomson See more See less
Mick McAloon See more See less
Dale Mineshima-Lowe See more See less
Patricia Sweeney See more See less
Ian Tucknott See more See less

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.