21/01/2026 – 26/03/2026

10 sesiones | 20 horas

Miércoles, 18:30 – 20:30

In this course students will be exposed to a broad range of American cultural production (including short stories, essays, poetry, music, films, theatre, television shows) and historical background centered on the figure and trope of the American outlaw.

Because the outlaw inhabits such a prominent place in America’s national imaginary, while at the same time remaining resistant to strict definition, a close examination and interrogation of its cultural significance across history will allow students to gain a deeper appreciation of American culture more generally. In this sense, the outlaw serves as a cipher through which certain aspects of American culture can be made more intelligible. In addition, students will consider what America’s infatuation with the outlaw as a defining national icon suggests in turn about one of the country’s defining national virtues: freedom. This course will develop students’ abilities to analyze cultural artifacts, synthesize their critiques, and express complex ideas coherently and fluidly.

Professor: Michael Engle