exam

The “excellent” answer will draw the answer from course materials (ONLY) and cite the appropriate page number.

Part I: The following questions are worth 5 points each. .

1. What is the term used to describe an unconventional lifestyle enjoyed by like minded people usually engaged in the arts such as music, art, literary, philosophy and spirituality?

2. Name five (5) characteristics of American emigrants.

3. In 1870 a new art movement emerged in Paris. What was it called? What are two characteristics? Provide an American example.

4. One question that arose in the discussion of the autobiographies and memoirs written by the “Lost Generation,” was their use as historical sources. The article “The History of Their Lives” makes a distinction between autobiography and memoir. Identify the difference articulated by the author.

5. Define and describe an example of the flâneur.

6. Define common sense, provide and example, and briefly relate it hegemony.

7. Define the “Lost Generation” (include the historical context of their appearance and who this phrase applies to). Identify one example of the lost generation discussed in class.

8. A new wave of Americans in Paris emerges from WWII. These emigrants are often characterized by the term cosmopolitanism. Define cosmopolitanism and identify one example from the readings?

Part II: The following questions are worth 10 points each.

1. We have discussed Americans in Paris as a counter-hegemonic movement to shift ideas about America. We discussed six (6) ways this transnational movement challenges American hegemonic ideals. Identify two characteristics of the transnational movement and what American common-sense idea they challenged.

2. Identify two of the people we came across in this module: One from the Lost Generation and one from the emergence of cosmopolitanism. Name them, locate them, and provide a brief biographic context for each.

Part III: The following longer essay questions are 20 points each. You should provide specific evidence relate to the readings.

Your essays should be 2-4 paragraphs in length and explicitly draw on course materials (with appropriate citations)

1. Use an American Studies approach to offer an analysis of the music video, Apesh*t by the Carters. Hints: Why Paris? Relate to course materials. Feel free to access the words of the song as part of your evidence (a simple google search: words to Apeshit will get them for you).

2. The group presentation for films about Americans in Paris identified four (4) recurring themes in their films that they related to power. For this essay, I’d like you to identify the four themes and discuss them in the hegemonic/counter-hegemonic framework. You should be able to talk about these themes as either reinforcing the ideal(s) of the dominant ruling class or challenging them. Make sure that you describe the hegemonic/counter-hegemonic framework in your answer to demonstrate your understanding of the concept.