Junior Colloquium: Cultural Power and American Studies
AMST 204
Spring 2007
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01
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Our interdisciplinary venture focuses on the 19th century to the present. We will explore key American studies critical concerns such as the analysis of how cultural power relates to the reproduction of contradictory social relations and to efforts to bring about social transformation. Thus we will consider not only what Americans are involved in--politically, economically, culturally--but what they might do about it. Our critical dialogues will engage cultural theory (Eagleton, Kavanagh, Weedon, West, Hooks), cultural criticism (Frank), literature (Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, Glaspell, Baraka), historical critique (Zinn, Wallace), a living history museum's project to influence popular memory (Sturbridge Village trip), art and advertising (Berger, Kruger), and films (Capra, Lee, Moore). We will help one another develop as theoretically aware and creative American studies thinkers. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Speaking, Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS AMST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: [HIST235 or AMST236] OR [HIST236 or AMST255] OR [ENGL203 or AMST155] OR [ENGL204 or AMST156] |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Frank Capra, Meet John Doe (film)
Terry Eagleton, WHAT IS IDEOLOGY? and THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEORY
James Kavanagh, IDEOLOGY
Herman Melville, TYPEE
John Berger, WAYS OF SEEING
Mark Twain, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT
Michael Wallace, VISITING THE PAST: HISTORY MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES
Howard Zinn, A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
Chris Weedon, FEMINIST PRACTICE AND POSTSTRUCTURALIST THEORY
Cornel West, THE DILEMMA OF THE BLACK INTELLECTUAL, LEARNING TO TALK ABOUT RACE
Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka), THE DUTCHMAN AND THE SLAVE
Spike Lee, DO THE RIGHT THING (film)
Bell Hooks, COUNTERHEGEMONIC ART: THE RIGHT THING
Thomas Frank, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KANSAS?: HOW CONSERVATIVES WON AMERICA, HIP IS DEAD
Michael Moore, FAHRENHEIT 9/11 READER (book) plus Fahrenheit 9/11 (film)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three five-page papers plus some exercises. Each student will take a turn at leading class discussion. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Only American Studies majors may take this course. |
| Instructor(s): Pfister,Joel Times: ...W... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: CAMS 3; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 6 | JR major: 14 | | |
| Seats Available: -1 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: X | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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