American Studies 235 - American Popular Culture

This course offers an analytical history of American popular culture since 1865. It starts from the premise that popular culture, far from being merely a frivolous or debased alternative to high culture, is an important site of popular expression, social instruction, and cultural conflict. The course examines theoretical texts that help to read popular culture and it studies specific artifacts from a variety of pop culture sources, from television shows to Hollywood movies, the pornography industry to spectator sports, and popular music to theme parks. The course pays special attention to questions of desire and to the ways popular culture has mediated and produced pleasure, disgust, fear, and satisfaction. Enrollment limited to 25.