American Studies research in Dortmund is characterized by its dialogical character – by the interaction between international researchers from different countries and American cultural issues; between dominant and subversive cultural spheres; between German and American literatures and cultures; between ‘culture’ and ‘technology’; between literary texts, visual representations and electronic media; between voices from the 19th and the 21st century; between local or regional places and transnational spaces.
We view American culture as a system of relationships and focus on the investigation of the extensive historical, discursive and global network in which it is embedded. We are deeply convinced that our research needs to give voice to those individuals and groups that are not easily heard and that it is the task of American Studies abroad to address the polyphonic diversity of our target culture and to contribute to its understanding in an international context.
Our research areas include:
For further information on our research activities, please visit the individual staff web pages.
A list of dissertations and post-Doc projects can be found here.
BOND!: The annual dissertation colloquium BOND (combining American Studies in BOchum and DortmuND) offers young scholars in American Studies a forum to present current research projects as work in progress. The organizers welcome contributors and guests focusing on the study of American history, culture, media, and literature from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and TU Dortmund. Every year, the presentations are accompanied by a special guest with a comprehensive perspective on American Studies to provide outside commentaries and methodological advice to the PhD students. For further information about BOND, please click here.
"HipHop im Revier: Identitäten - Ökonomien - Politiken.", 2-3 July 2010.
"First International Walt Whitman Symposium." 21-22 June 2008.