By the end of this course, the student:
1) has acquired insight into the processes that have shaped the global image of the United States in and vice versa, with a focus on transatlantic exchanges;
2) is able to describe, analyze and contextualize images of "America" as produced by Europeans and Americans including travelers, writers, intellectuals, diplomats, musicians, and people working in the visual media industry;
3) has developed skills to analyze processes of cultural transmission and comprehend patterns in reception processes of American (popular) culture in Europe and China.

In this course, we analyze processes of democratization, cultural appropriation, cultural transfer, and cultural mobility from modernism to the digital age of globalization. Based on particular case studies and key moments of intercultural confrontations, we will investigate patterns of (anti)Americanization in modern cultures by addressing the ambiguous, multivalent functions of popular media. You will engage in theoretical reflections on (distorted) cultural reception, transmission, and mobility. This will enable you to theoretically ground critical approaches to American culture in transatlantic and global contexts. You will understand the complex ways in which European nations have responded to American popular culture in texts, (moving) images, and music. Special sessions are dedicated to the intersection of music and politics, Islamophobia in popular culture, and America’s ongoing contest with China.