Faculty First Year Seminars 197COMM4 - Radical America: the History

It is unprecedented in U.S. history that someone like Bernie Sanders who calls himself a socialist could mount a formidable challenge to the Democratic Party establishment. Recent polls among Millennials indicate a greater preference for socialism over capitalism. And while the Cold War-McCarthy era saw the demonization of Marxism, there is a rich, diverse, yet hardly known socialist tradition in the U.S. Here?s some important players: Edward Bellamy?s ?Looking Backward.? The Wobblies. Emma Goldman?s Mother Earth anarchism. The Farm Labor Party. 1930s Communist organizing. The Federal Theatre Project. Henry Wallace and the Progressive Party. The Hollywood Ten. SDS. The Black Panthers. Through a series of readings and multimedia offerings, we?ll discuss the distinctiveness of these varied radical movements, their political critiques, utopian visions, and how they might resonate today. Learners will do short DIY media projects representing some of the issues and personalities animating these radical traditions.

Freshmen Only