History 272 - American Scandal: 1700 - Present

A woman behaves badly. A man’s honor is attacked. Race barriers are contravened. Criminals get violent. When these things happen, scandals ensue. This course surveys changes in American society and culture from the eighteenth century to the present through the lens of the sensational and the scandalous. The course focuses particularly on issues of corruption, gender, sexuality, race, media, and violence. Examining scandals allows us to better understand popular norms about power, politics, and society. Enrollment limited to 40.