The rollercoaster of recent months triggers some fascinating questions: how did a gaffe-prone candidate with virtually no experience, no funding and no campaign organisation slay so many political giants?  With a Republican majority in Congress, why might not he fulfil his campaign promises?  What are the Democrats' perspectives for retaking Washington?  

A wander down history lane may give us some clues.

But beyond personality cults and the constitutional prerogatives of the various institutions, we will be addressing some of the broader cultural fault lines running through American society.  Students will research and present contemporary topics like white privilege and race-relations, economic inequalities, war and patriotism, the Obamacare controversy, the power of financial, religious and industrial-military lobbies, election campaign shenanigans or the limitations of the media.  These presentations will be illustrated by a related film extract commentary.  Course evaluation also includes essay-writing, group and pair-work and participation.

We will also be studying a rich repertory of political satire from comedians such as Samantha Bee, Steven Colbert, Jon Stewart and SNL.  But to start the course you will take a political orientation test to establish if you are a tree-hugging, bra-burning liberal or a God-fearing, gun-totin' Wacko bird.