Approaches to American Studies
Carole McCann
University of Maryland
Introduction
This course is an introduction to the dominant approaches and methods in American Studies. During the semester, you eill be examining values, patterns of behavior, even objects that most of us take for granted. The goal of the course is to develop a greater understanding of the "culture concept" and of the nature of interpretation. Tha is, we will consider what culture is and how we in American Studies know what we know about American culture. You will learn about different modes os analysis used in American Studies, necome familiar with the various forms of evidence we use in our interpretations and uncover the (usually) unwritten assumptions that shape the questions we ask and approaches we take. Your goal in this course is to learn close reding, critical thinking and writing skills that will enable you to be self-conscious and thoughtful investigators of American culture.
We will use biological science and technology as the lens to focus our study of American culture. Through a series of case studies we will examine some of the ways the biological sciences and technologies have been shaped by and shape American culture. Far from being "value free," science and technology have been linked to American mythologies of material success. progress and morality. Technological changes have also been essential in the evolution of many institutions tha are central to the daily lives of Americans (such as the household and workplace). Over the semester we will explore specific issues concerning social history, ethnography, material culture analysis and biography. This course is especially desigend for students intending to major in American Studies. A BACKGROUND IN SCIENCE IS NOT REQUIRED.
Required Texts
- Charles Rosenberg, The Cholera Years
- Langdon Winner, The Whale and the Reactor
- Ruth Schwartz Cowan, More Work for Mother
- Kenneth Manning, Black Apollo of Science
- Allan Brandt, No Magic Bullet
- Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar, Laboratory Life
Class Participation:
A fundamental assumption of AMST 29 is that active participation and
interchange in class is the most effective and stimulating form of learning,
and therefore we will use a seminar format. Class meetings will emphasize
analysis and discussion of assigned readings; lectures will be kept to a
minimum. A major goal of the course is to help you develop the ability to
articulate your own ideas and discuss the ideas of others.
Thoughtful partcipation (quality not quantity) is thus an important and expected part of the course-- a requirement which you should take seriously. I reserve the right to ack you to complete a writing exercise in class which will help you understand the readings and facilitate discussion. Attendance is also necessary for the success of this course, and is required. Should you miss more than two classes during the semster (unless you have a written medical excuse), your final grade will be lowered.
Assignments:
Essays (6x15%)
AMST 290 offers you an opportunity to develop critical reading, writing and analytical skills. An important aim of the course is to help you learn not inly for comprehension of content, but also to understand the underlying assumptions and modes of analysis various authors use. You will be required to write six essays (4-5 paged doubled spaced pages). Each will focus upon a question which demands that you synthesize ideas and information from the readings. Instruction sheets will be distributed approximately two weeks before the due date.
Topics and Readings
- Science and Technology as Cultural Practice
- Social History: Disease in the 19th Century
Charles Rosenberg, Cholera Years
First Essay Due- Social History: Disease in the 20th century
Allan Brandt, No Magic Bullet
Paula Treichler, "Aids, Gender and BioMedical Discourse"
Second Essay Due- Biography: Racism and American Science
Kenneth Manning, Black Apollo of Science
Third Essay Due- Ethnography: Laboratory Practices
Bruno Latour & Steve Woolgar, Laboratory Life
Fourth Essay Due- Material Culture: American Households
Ruth Schwartz Cowan, More Work For Mother
Fifth Essay Due- Intellectual History: The Eviromental Sciences
Langdon Winner, The Whale and the Reactor (chs. 3-10)
Sixth Essay Due
Clifford Geertz, "Thick Description: Toward an Interpretative Theory of Culture"
Langdon Winner, The Whale and the Reactor (chs. 1, 2)