American Studies 220 - COLLOQUIUM

Topics course. Which histories become part of national memory, and which do not? This course interrogates the intellectual, political and pedagogical bases of literature, museums and public history in the U.S. from the 18th century to today. We devote part of our time to the theoretical readings that will ground our inquiry: texts range from museum studies, anthropology and sociology, to history, literary studies and cultural studies. The other part focuses on specific historical and present-day case studies, such as PT Barnum's American Museum, Wanamaker's Hiawatha Shows, the President's House and the Pop-Up Museum of Queer History.

Topic: Curating American Memories.