Junior Colloquium: Cultural Power and American Studies
AMST 204
Spring 2012
| Section:
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, Howells, Dodd, Glaspell, Baraka), historical critique (Zinn, Levine, Lears), 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:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS AMST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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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)
Lawrence Levine, THE FOLKLORE OF INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY: POPULAR CULTURE AND ITS AUDIENCES
Jackson Lears, MAKING FUN OF POPULAR CULTURE
Terry Eagleton, WHAT IS IDEOLOGY? and THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEORY
James Kavanagh, IDEOLOGY
Herman Melville, TYPEE
John Berger, WAYS OF SEEING
William Dean Howells, TRAVELER FROM ALTRURIA
Anna Bowman Dodd, THE REPUBLIC OF THE FUTURE
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) and Capitalism: A Love Story (film)
Joel Pfister, CRITIQUE FOR WHAT? CULTURAL STUDIES, AMERICAN STUDIES, LEFT STUDIES
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Examinations and Assignments:
Three 7-10 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: .M..... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: DWNY208; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 11 | | |
| Seats Available: 3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 0 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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