American Studies 341 - SYMPOSIUM IN AMERICAN STUDIES

Topics course. Limited to senior majors. Where does ?the public? lie in American society? What is the role of culture in shaping our sense of public life and its political possibilities? This seminar will examine the concept of the ?public sphere? and consider the ways in which we can use this concept to understand key aspects of American culture and society from the 19th century to the present. The public sphere can be understood as a cornerstone of modern democracy; it is, ideally, the sphere in which we engage in debate over the values and practices that should govern our collective life. Yet, the public sphere can also be a mechanism for excluding certain people from participation in the shared culture or politics of the nation, or silencing certain voices or forms of expression. Reading a mix of theoretical and historical works, we will reflect on such topics as: the role of arts and media in creating a sense of public participation; the relationship between public life and consumer capitalism; and the role of censorship in defining the limits of acceptable public expression. Permission of the instructor required.

Topic: Culture, Politics and the Public Sphere. Instructor Permission. Limited to AMS majors Limited to seniors