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CS92PROD
Visions of the Future: Capitalism and Colonialism in the World's Fairs
CHUM 322
Fall 2022
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: AMST 322, HIST 398

This course will explore the history of the world's fairs from the 1851 Great Exhibition in London to the 1939 New York World's Fair. These events showcased the newest technologies that would revolutionize life and labor for millions of human beings around the world. They also presented to the public new consumer goods and forms of entertainment such as music, dances, and sports. Moreover, they were sites of competition for rising nations and empires. Each participant country brought artifacts that demonstrated their (often idealized) national characteristics and development. Western powers displayed colonial products and peoples to show how they had been advancing in their expansionist enterprises. The students will read works on the humanities and social sciences that delve into the meanings of the world's fairs. They will also analyze primary sources (texts, paintings, film, songs, cartoons, and more) which will allow them to ask their own questions about these events.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA CHUM
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Student Option
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (AMST)
Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89%

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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