Junior Colloquium: Cultural Power and American Studies
AMST 204
Fall 2008
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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. |
Essential Capabilities:
Interpretation (we will engage in theoretical, historical, and close readings of a range of texts and ideological productions) and Ethical Reasoning (we will raise political and ethical questions about what we read and discuss).
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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) 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 to seven page papers plus some exercises. Each student will take a turn at leading class discussion. Films will be shown on three Sunday evenings during the term. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments: Only American Studies majors--either juniors or seniors--may take this colloquium. We may take a field trip to analyze the ideological production and commodification of history in Sturbridge Village (a "living history" museum--a recreation of an 1830s rural village--in Sturbridge, Massachusetts). This field trip would take place for an entire Friday during the term. |
Instructor(s): Pfister,Joel Times: ...W... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: CRT285; |
Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 6 | JR major: 14 |   |   |
Seats Available: 1 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 0 | FR: 0 |
Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
Total Submitted Requests: 5 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 3 |
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