Centred on the War on Terror, this OLE introduces students to the political, cultural and economic issues that drive American violence. Students will identify the relations between the history of American empire, global terrorism and the privatisation of state violence. Students will study and interpret cultural texts such as Hollywood and television, propaganda from state and non-state violent actors and groups, and first-hand accounts of war. Building on this global scene of American violence, students will interrogate transnational violence and US immigration, critique the use of the death penalty in the United States, and categorise the interpretations of the Second Amendment in relation to the debate on gun control.

The fine print

Online classes
Available in semester 2, 2022
2 x 1hr online content per week
5 x 1hr online discussion

Assessment
Multiple choice quizzes (25%)
1 x 250-word blog post (20%)
1 x 200-word reflective journal entry (15%)
1 x 500-word short research paper (40%)

Unit coordinator

Dr Rodney Taveira

Senior Lecturer in American Studies, and Undergraduate, Honours, and Postgraduate Coordinator, United States Studies Centre

What is an OLE?

The Open Learning Environment (OLE) is a collection of units that offer you the opportunity to extend your skills and knowledge by exploring other fields of study. You can learn about a diverse range of topics such as global cultures, entrepreneurial thinking, coding, ethics, design thinking and project management.

Units in the OLE are either zero, two or six credit points. Zero credit point units are free and available to all current students (undergraduate and postgraduate). Our short units are completely online and can be completed at your own convenience.