The seminar explores the sonic dimension of US American cultures. It makes students familiar with different theoretical approaches to the study of sound and music studies, which will be used to analyze a variety of acoustic phenomena and practices, including sounds of the city, the sounds of nature, the significance of voice, the poetics and politics of silence, and, last but not least, different musical styles and genres and their social and political relevance. For the period of two weeks in May, the course will be taught by Prof. Dr. Thomas M. Kitts from St. John’s University, New York City, who will bring in his expertise of music and sounds of and in the Big Apple. Also, students will participate in the Annual Meeting of the German Association of American Studies (23-25 May), which will focus on the course’s topic.

Course requirements:

- Regular attendance & active participation (e.g. reading assignments, in-class discussions), including the block-session by Prof. Dr. Kitts
- Participation in at least one panel of the GAAS Annual Meeting on “American Soundscapes”
- Paper on the basis of a presentation (“Referat und schriftliche Ausarbeitung”, c. 12-15 pp.) due September 15th 2024.