BRITISH CIVILIZATION (BTAN12000; AN18007) Borus György
Autumn 2016 Room: 104
BA, First Year + Minor Office hours:
Tu.: 16-17:40 Tu.: 15-16
Room: 119 Th.: 12-13
The course has a double aim. First, to introduce students to British history and civilization (institutions, attitudes, aspects of social, cultural and everyday life) and, second, to improve the students’ language skills. In each seminar an essay or/and a textbook chapter will be discussed, which will give the students some idea of various aspects of life in modern Britain. The discussions will be accompanied by comprehension questions and exercises. Audiovisual aids and newspaper articles selected by the seminar leader will also be used.
Students will be expected to keep up with the readings and to come to class regularly and well prepared. Only three unjustified absences will be tolerated. Grading will be based on the results of two in-class tests, which will include essay questions as well (40% each), occasional quizzes (10 %) and on participation in classroom discussion (10%). The Mid-term and End-term tests must be written at the time scheduled in the syllabus and they cannot be rewritten.
Schedule:
Week 1: Orientation and General Introduction
Film: National Identity
2 The Land and the People of Britain
National Characteristics, Symbols and Identities
Reading: Jeremy Paxman, ‘The English Empire’, 43-47; James O’Driscoll, Britain, Ch. 1: 8-13; Sieghart, 'British unity in diversity'; Henderson, 'Confident Celts...'; Neil, 'Scotland rouses the beast of English nationalism'; Kelly, 'Hooked on hatred of the English'
3 Changes in Modern British Society and the Consequences of Brexit
Reading: Beppe Severgnini, 'An Italian in London'; Andrew Sullivan, ‘Farewell Britannia; There Will Always Be an England’
4 Political Institutions
Reading: James O’Driscoll, Britain, Ch. 9 and 10
5 International Relations
Reading: James O’Driscoll: Britain, Ch. 12; Magnus Linklater, 'A dysfunctional family?'; John Lichfield, 'Do we need Europe?'
6 The Economy
Reading: ‘The British Economy in the 20th Century’
7 Consultation Week
8 Mid-Term Paper
9 Education, Law and Health Care
Reading: McCormick, Contemporary Britain, 71-88; Tony Blair, 'Why schools must do better'; 'The Health Service at 50'
10 Religion and Race Relations
Reading: Jeremy Paxman, ‘True Born Englishmen and Other Lies’; John Oakland, British Civilization, 60-67;
Jeremy Paxman, ‘The Parish of the Senses’; John Oakland, British Civilization (6th ed.), 254-263
11 Post-War Life and Politics I
Reading: McCormick, Contemporary Britain, 18-25
12 Post-War Life and Politics II—the Thatcher Revolution and New Labour
Reading: McCormick, Contemporary Britain, 25-33; Andrew Sullivan, ‘Farewell Britannia; There Will Always Be an England’
13 End-Term Test
14 Revision and Evaluation