Research Fields

The Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University maintains one of the strongest American Studies research programs in German-speaking countries. It offers full coverage of research into literary and cultural studies through the entire history of the United States, from the colonial period to the 21st century.

Our fields of research are:

  • Early American Studies
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Life Writing/Life Sciences
  • Political and Intellectual History
  • Film & Media Studies
  • Religion and American Culture
  • Material Culture Studies

Two research centers, on Early American Studies, which also runs two DFG-funded research projects on Early American short stories and biography, and on Comparative Native and Indigenous Studies, highlight the department’s diversity of focus both on classically American topics as well as on transnational and intercultural approaches.

 Our projects include and are connected to: