American Studies 340cc - Seminar: Capstone in American Studies-Culture and Crisis

Sem: Capstone-Culture&Crisis

Spring
2024
01
4.00
Evangeline Heiliger

TH 9:25 AM - 12:05 PM

Smith College
AMS-340cc-01-202403
Wright 238
vheiliger@smith.edu
According to a growing number of social theorists, and pretty much everybody else, this is an age of crisis. One of the critical tasks is to develop interdisciplinary tools to analyze how environmental conditions, economic systems, technological developments and political ideologies have sent humans on a path of catastrophes: climate change, resource exhaustion, inequality, social fragmentation and political repression. This course examines how these conditions have shaped American culture (asking why news broadcasts, the entertainment industry and social media respond to crises with distraction, disinformation, fear-mongering and scapegoating), and explore efforts of artists and activists to theorize and devise creative and just alternatives in visual arts, fiction, essays, comedy, movies and music. American Studies Majors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Juniors and seniors only. Instructor permission required.

[CE] AMS 340 Limit; AMS majors only; JR/SR only

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.
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