Contemporary U.S. Politics: An Introduction to American Studies
AMST 179
Fall 2023
| Section:
01
|
This course will focus on contemporary politics in the United States. We will cover topics such as populism and the Trump presidency, current political narratives concerning immigration, the rise of the "alt-right," debates over free speech, race and civil rights, state violence and the prison system, sexual assault and the abuse of power, religious freedom and freedom from religion, the workings of late capitalism, and the possibilities of environmental justice. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS AMST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(HRAD-MN) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
:
Major readings encompass a range of scholarly texts as well as political journalism and primary from major American newspapers and other forms of contemporary media including television, film, and social media sites. Texts include:
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation
Kathleen Belew, Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America
Jane Mayer, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
Amitav Ghosh, The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
|
Examinations and Assignments:
:
weekly short Moodle posts, midterm essay, and final essay |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
: N/A |
| Instructor(s): Grappo,Laura Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: FISK404; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: -1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 5 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 13 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 2 | Unranked: 7 |
|
|