At the end of this course, the students; 1) will be able to trace the development of American humor from its early roots to modern examples, 2) will be able to discuss the ways in which early good-natured humor gave way to bitter satire and black humor, 3) will be able to examine the relationship between humor and power by looking at both mainstream and marginal works, 4) will be able to investigate the subversive power of humor.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face to face
PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
No
RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL PROGRAMME COMPONENT
None
COURSE DEFINITION
The course is designed to trace the development of American humor from the early tall tale tradition to contemporary humor. While established humorists such as Mark Twain, James Thurber, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., etc. will be an integral part of the course, it will also explore lesser known types of humor, such as women's humor, ethnic humor, African-American humor, etc.
COURSE CONTENTS
WEEK
TOPICS
1st Week
Introduction: What is Humor? Theories of Humor
2nd Week
Early American Humor: The Tall Tale
3rd Week
Regional Humor (with Special Emphasis on Southwestern Humor)
4th Week
Mark Twain
5th Week
Mark Twain
6th Week
Mark Twain
7th Week
Ethnic Humor
8th Week
Women's Humor
9th Week
Women's Humor
10th Week
Women's Humor
11th Week
Social Humor (Vonnegut and Coover)
12th Week
Absurdism and Dark Humor
13th Week
Absurdism and Dark Humor
14th Week
Absurdism and Dark Humor
RECOMENDED OR REQUIRED READING
Boskin, Joseph. Humor and Social Change in Twentieth Century America. Boston: Trustees of the Public Library, 1979.
Covici, Pascal. Humor and Revelation in American Literature: The Puritan Connection. Columbia: U of Missouri P, 1997.
Hughes, Langston. The Book of Negro Humor. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1966.
Sloane, David E. E., ed. New Directions in American Humor. Tuscaloosa: U of Alabama P, 1998.
Walker, Nancy A. A Very Serious Thing: Women's Humor and American Culture. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1988.
PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Lecture,Discussion,Presentation
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
Quantity
Percentage(%)
Project
1
30
Attendance
1
10
Presentation of Article
2
20
Total(%)
60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)
60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)
40
Total(%)
100
ECTS WORKLOAD
Activities
Number
Hours
Workload
Midterm exam
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work
14
5
70
Preparation for Final exam
1
10
10
Course hours
14
3
42
Preparation for Midterm exam
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
1
3
3
Homework
Project
1
60
60
Article Presentation
2
25
50
Weekly Articles and Resource Research
14
5
70
Total Workload
305
Total Workload / 30
10,16
ECTS Credits of the Course
10
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English
WORK PLACEMENT(S)
No
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES (KLO) / MATRIX OF LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO)