American Studies, School of Modern Languages and Cultures HKU

Baby boomers, Beats, Hippies, Yuppies and Gen (eration) Xers are labels assigned to various generations of American youth. This survey course will explore the connection between historical change and adolescence/early adulthood in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. Throughout the term we will consider youth culture through the interdisciplinary mix of history, politics, literature and popular culture. From these diverse perspectives, we will discover how young people in America are defined and how they attempt to define themselves by their subcultures, fashion, leisure, music, use of the internet, slang, education and other expressions of identity. While teaching about American youth cultures, the course will offer students a chance to reflect on their own experiences as adolescents/young adults and will focus on improving critical thinking, speaking and writing skills.

Elective Course
AMER2043	Born in the USA: U.S. youth cultures	6 credits

Baby boomers, Beats, Hippies, Yuppies and Gen (eration) Xers are labels assigned to various generations of American youth. This survey course will explore the connection between historical change and adolescence/early adulthood in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. Throughout the term we will consider youth culture through the interdisciplinary mix of history, politics, literature and popular culture. From these diverse perspectives, we will discover how young people in America are defined and how they attempt to define themselves by their subcultures, fashion, leisure, music, use of the internet, slang, education and other expressions of identity. While teaching about American youth cultures, the course will offer students a chance to reflect on their own experiences as adolescents/young adults and will focus on improving critical thinking, speaking and writing skills.

Prerequisite: Nil
Assessment: 100% coursework
(Not on offered in 2021/2022)