Introduction: American Studies in the Classroom – Arts, Culture, and Critical Pedagogy

This introduction situates the special issue's central premise that artistic and aesthetic practices offer powerful pedagogical tools for critical inquiry in American studies. Framed by the field's interdisciplinary traditions and its ongoing epistemic transformations, the introduction reflects on how classroom practices can foster analytical, emotional, and ethical engagement with cultural materials. It also highlights the political stakes of teaching US history and culture in a moment marked by curricular debates, book bans, and renewed challenges to critical scholarship. The articles collected here present innovative approaches that expand the interpretive possibilities of American studies pedagogy across classrooms, analog and digital media, as well as public spaces.