Students will learn about a variety of community-based cultural practices by engaging with international and regional examples of material culture, customs and rituals, and narrative traditions. Applying theoretical perspectives gained through readings and discussion, students will evaluate the way those traditions reflect class, gender, and ethnic identity. Students will also learn basic ethnographic research methods and document traditional cultural practices found in their own communities.

This course introduces students to American cultural studies through an interdisciplinary exploration of the ideals, struggles, and themes prominent in representation of iconic American lives and values, from the revolutionary era to the present. Focusing on ideals and concepts such as social justice, immigration, citizenship, and entrepreneurialism, students will learn to critically reflect upon a variety of media, including art, comics, film, literature, and historical documents, that represent American lives and values.

Independent study.