Welcome to the Obama Institute
for Transnational American Studies!

The Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offers a dynamic and wide-ranging program in both research and teaching for all students interested in topics related to the Americas in a global context.

With a special focus on interculturality, transnationalism, and interdisciplinarity, our expertise lies in the fields of Early American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Life Writing/Life Sciences, Political & Intellectual History, Film & Media Studies, Religion and American Culture, and Materiality.

Contact

Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies
University of Mainz
Jakob-Welder-Weg 20
55128 Mainz
Germany
+49 6131 39-22357
+49 6131 39-29097
Email

Mar 14 – Exhibition “Young Adult Fiction” 🗓

Mar 14, 2025 – 10:00-14:00Philosophicum II – room 02.102 Exhibition "Young Adult Fiction" Developed from student projects during the American Studies Graduate Seminar 522 "Young Adult Fiction," this exhibition shows how creative, diplomatic, and inspiring young adult...

Jan 31 – Guest Lecture “Back to the Future: Reflektionen zu den Übertragungen von zwei antirassistischen Romanen der 1920er Jahre” 🗓

Peter Höyng(Emory University) Back to the Future:Reflektionen zu den Übertragungen von zwei antirassistischen Romanen der 1920er Jahre Jan 31, 2025, 12:15-13:45, 00.212, Philosophicum II (Jakob-Welder-Weg 20) Zusammen mit einem Kollegen hat Peter Höyng zwei Romane...

Jan 20 – Guest Lecture “Pop Art, Activism, and Indigenous Futurism: The Visual Art of Ryan Singer” 🗓

Karsten Fitz(Universität Passau) Pop Art, Activism, and Indigenous Futurism: The Visual Art of Ryan Singer Jan 20, 2025, 16:15-17:45, 02.102, Philosophicum II (Jakob-Welder-Weg 20) Writing against the Western tradition of freezing Native cultures in a long-gone...

Jan 28 – Guest Lecture “Far Right Zines and Gender Activities” 🗓

Alexandra Mehnert(JGU Mainz/Universität Leipzig) Far Right Zines and Gender Activities Jan 28, 2025, 18:15-19:45, P 109a (Philosophicum) The seminar will show perspectives for the research with subcultural print media. For this purpose, Zines will be...

Jan 20 – Guest Lecture “Performing the Archive in Contemporary Testimonial Plays” 🗓

Julia Rössler(Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) Performing the Archive in Contemporary Testimonial Plays Jan 20, 2025, 10:15-11:45, Fakultätssaal (01-185, Philosophicum) Documentary practices currently proliferate in contemporary drama and theater in the...

Jan 20 – Guest Lecture “Writing In Between: Relationality in Siri Hustvedt’s and Zadie Smith’s Works” 🗓

Christine Marks(CUNY LaGuardia Community College, NY, USA) Writing In Between:Relationality in Siri Hustvedt’s and Zadie Smith’s Works Jan 20, 2025, 10:15-11:45, P 5 (Philosophicum) This talk considers the works of Siri Hustvedt and Zadie Smith, two...