None.
This course examines how the concept of the American Dream shapes American literature from the mid 19th to the 21st century. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which American literature tries to expose or resolve ideological binary oppositions and ambiguities generated by the concept of the American Dream in different cultural periods, from Romanticism to Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism. Students will study the dynamic interrelation between literary text and cultural context as well as content and aesthetic form in a variety of texts from all four major literary forms: Prose: Fiction, Prose: Non-Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. In the process, they will develop skills in both the contextual and close reading of a text as well as advanced critical thinking, commentary, essay writing, and research skills. Focus is placed on encouraging students to create literary commentaries and essays that demonstrate a deep understanding of a text, sophisticated appreciation of the author’s aesthetic choices as well as the use of advanced academic vocabulary, coherent structure, and supportive evidence.
Texts Studied
Course Instruction Time: 15 weeks
Course Completion Time: 20 weeks
Fellow/Online Instructor: Dr. Evan Syropoulos
Cost: 600 €UROS
Dr. Evangelos Syropoulos holds a BA in English Language and Literature (1995), an MA in English Literature and Culture (1999), and a PhD in Musical Theatre (2008) from the School of English of Aristotle University, Greece. He conducted postdoctoral research and/ or taught drama/ theatre courses at Aristotle University, Ghent University (Belgium), and Goldsmiths College (University of London). His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals in Greece, Belgium, and the UK. He is also a College Board-certified AP Capstone teacher, receiving his training at McBride High School, Long Beach CA, in 2017.
This is his fourth year at ACS Athens. The last three years, he worked as Writing Studio Coordinator and additionally taught literature and film courses, co-coached the ACS Athens Academy Duet Acting team, and participated in the Mentor Program and the New Colleagues Mentor Program.
This year, he teaches IB English A: Literature Year 1, IB English A: Literature Year 2, IB English A: Language and Literature Year 1, and IB Theory of Knowledge Senior Seminar. He has recently joined the ACS Athens Institute as Fellow, designing and teaching an online course in English Literature for the ACS Athens Virtual School.