Welcome to アメリカ文化論, or, "An Introduction to American Studies" – the interdisciplinary [学際的] field of study which explores the cultural, economic, political, and social history of the United States. We will, therefore, work with a variety of texts, e.g. (histories, paintings, songs, film, photographs, memoirs, etc.) and academic disciplines, (e.g. history, geography, economics, social studies, media studies, etc.) in coming to terms with the basic question, "What is "American" culture and how did it come to be this way?"