Welcome to American Studies! | American Studies | UNC ...



THE UNIVERSITY OF

NORTH CAROLINA

AT CHARLOTTE

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Spring 2012

AMST 2050 – A02 (CRN#26089) Topics in AMST: Disney & Children’s Literature

Connolly, P. TR 9:30 – 10:45

Cross listed with ENGL 2090

In this class, we will study the development of Disney short-and feature-length animated films, ranging from Silly Symphonies and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to more recent films like Beauty and the Beast and Mulan. We will also explore the translation of children’s literature to film by reading the fairytales and stories from which those films were adapted. Such study of story and film will allow us opportunities to examine how Disney films both reflect and affect American culture.

AMST 2050 – 001 (CRN#25728) Topics in AMST: African-American History since 1860

Mixon, G. MW 11:00 – 12:15

Cross listed with HIST 2161.

This course explores the African-American experience from the Civil War to the present. It follows the struggle of freed slaves and free people of color to take advantage of the promise of emancipation and the changing place of African-Americans in their society.

AMST 2050 – 090 (CRN#25503) Topics in AMST: Indians of the Southeastern United States

May, J.A. W 6:30 – 9:15

Cross listed with ANTH 2114 – 090.

Study of American Indians of the Southeastern United States with emphasis on tribes of the Carolinas. Areas of investigation include pre-contact cultures, Indian-European contact relationships, history, and contemporary Southeastern Indian issues.

AMST 2050 – 091 (CRN#25822) Topics in AMST: US History since 1865

Cole, T. M 6:30 – 9:15

Cross listed with HIST 1161 – 091.

American History from 1865 to the present.

AMST 3000 – 001 (CRN#20681) The American South: Where the Blues Began (W,O)

Luddy, K. R 2:00 – 4:45

The Blues is a purely American art form that originated in the American South and is renowned throughout the world for expressing human emotions ranging from despair to hope.  Using music, film, and written texts, we will explore cultural aspects of the American South and discuss how and why this music came to be.  We will listen to a variety of blues (from Leadbelly to Otis Redding, from Etta James to Alicia Keys) and read Alan Lomax’s award-winning memoir The Land Where the Blues Began, among other texts.  We will experience for ourselves how the blues still resonate within our hearts and souls today. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 002 (CRN#20682) Media Violence and American Culture (W,O)

Bruner, M. MW 8:00 – 9:15

By the age of eighteen, the average American child will have witnessed more than 200,000 acts of violence on television.  Despite decades of research, we are unable to make a direct correlation between media violence and violent behavior – even though the United States has the highest homicide rates of any advanced industrialized democracy in the world.  In this course, we will examine several types of media and how violence is portrayed in each. Through various modes of critical inquiry, we will examine the complex relationship between media violence and American culture. This course meets both writing intensive and oral communication general education goals. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 003 (CRN#20683) The Catawba: River of Life (W, O)

McMurray, B. W 2:00 – 4:45

From the highlands of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, through the rolling Piedmont of the Carolinas, to the flat swamps of the south, the Catawba River has a rich history of Native American culture and life. This course will study the Catawba River, from its source to its termination in the Atlantic Ocean, and will include the history and culture of the Catawba (Iswa) Nation, beginning with their first mention by Spanish explorers in the 1500s to the present day Catawba Reservation near Rock Hill, South Carolina. Our study of this river of life will also examine its use today by private and corporate citizens. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 004 (CRN#20684) Appalachian Literature and Culture (W, O)

Eckard, P. T 2:00 – 4:45

This course will focus on the literature and culture of Southern Appalachia. Through novels, stories, poetry, film, and music we will explore the rich heritage associated with this region. We will read works by James Still (River of Earth), Lee Smith (Saving Grace), Fred Chappell (I am One of You Forever), and selected writers collected in Listen Here: Women Writing in Appalachia. We will also examine Appalachian folk tales, ballads, and other oral traditions that defined people and place. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 090 (CRN#20758) Motorsports in the South: NASCAR Past and Present (W,O)

McMurray, B. W 5:00 – 7:45

From the gritty, rutted fairground dirt tracks to the gleaming, sleek Super speedways, racing has always been a Southern product. NASCAR stock car racing has grown from its regional roots to become one of the nation’s top sporting attractions. This course will explore the men and machines that raced the tracks of the South, as well as the rules and regulations that every driver has been caught breaking. From the brave moonshine runners of the 40’s to the slick, highly-televised races of today, we will explore why this phenomenon is such a popular sport. Characters such as NASCAR’s Founder, Big Bill France, along with famous drivers Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Others will be featured for their impact on Southern Culture. In addition to the study of racing in films, we will examine contemporary support industries such as marketing, public relations, and souvenir merchandising. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 091 (CRN#23923) The American South: Where the Blues Began (W,O)

Luddy, K. R 6:00 – 8:45

The Blues is a purely American art form that originated in the American South and is renowned throughout the world for expressing human emotions ranging from despair to hope.  Using music, film, and written texts, we will explore cultural aspects of the American South and discuss how and why this music came to be.  We will listen to a variety of blues (from Leadbelly to Otis Redding, from Etta James to Alicia Keys) and read Alan Lomax’s award-winning memoir The Land Where the Blues Began, among other texts.  We will experience for ourselves how the blues still resonate within our hearts and souls today. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3000 – 092 (CRN#24884) Food In America (W,O)

Belus, M. M 5:00 – 7:45

Food….we need it, we love it, but how does it shape our lives beyond our basic needs for sustenance? How does it impact us culturally? Ethnically? Romantically? In this class we will study the changing dynamic of food as it connects Americans through our rituals with family and friends, through media and advertising, and through our personal behaviors and relationship with food. Other topics we will cover include critical perspectives on gender and food,  modified foods, fad diets, and the influence of the fast food industry on individuals and the nation.  Course requirements include numerous reading assignments of books and articles, formal and informal writing assignments, and class presentations. Note: This course meets the writing intensive and oral communication goals for general education.

AMST 3020 – 001 (CRN#21726) Ghosts in American Film and Culture (W)

C. Gordon 100 % ON-LINE

In this 100% online writing intensive course, we will explore the subject of ghosts in American film and culture. According to a recent Harris Poll, nearly half of all Americans claim to believe in ghosts. Modern horror films such as Poltergeist and The Amityville Horror have been thought to influence these beliefs. Ghosts also have a romantic side (the classic film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and the more recent Ghost, with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore), as well as a funny side (Ghostbusters and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken). Ghosts appear in American literature and are told about in folktales and stories. They are also the subject of poetry, comic books, cartoons, television shows, and popular music. Even a search of the internet returns millions of hits for "ghosts."

AMST 3020 – 002 (CRN#20685) Poker in American Film and Culture (W)

Harris, M. M 2:00 – 4:45

This course examines the history of poker in America -- a game invented in the U.S. shortly after the nation’s birth -- focusing in particular on cultural productions, including film and literature, in which poker is of special thematic importance. Students will not only learn poker’s rich story and relevance to U.S. history generally speaking, but will also come to appreciate how the game serves as a lens through which to examine numerous aspects of American culture from the early 19th century to the present day. Note: This course meets the writing intensive general education goal.

AMST 3020 – 090 (CRN#20686) Pop Culture and the American Music Scene (W)

Schacht, J. T 6:30 – 9:15

This course will explore the impact of popular music on American culture. We’ll begin with the earliest mass mediums (radio, acetates, field recordings) and the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. We’ll continue through the youth culture movement of the second-half of the 20th century, including Woodstock, the sexual and drug revolutions, punk, hip-hop, and indie rock. We’ll look at the effect music has had on other mediums, such as film and television.  Finally, we’ll examine the impact of the internet on the American music scene.  Note: This course meets the writing intensive general education goal.

AMST 3050 – U90 (CRN#25729) Topics in AMST: Topics in US History: Southern Women’s History

Cox, K. M 6:30 – 9:15

Cross listed with HIST 3000 – U90.

This course surveys the history of women’s experiences in the American South. Through readings, lectures, and discussion students will learn about the importance of race, class, and gender in shaping southern women’s lives.

AMST 3050 – 001 (CRN#25730) Topics in AMST: Colonial America

Cameron, C. TR 9:30 – 10:45

Cross listed with HIST 3201 – 001.

This course examines the diverse and dynamic societies of colonial North America, with particular emphasis on Britain’s thirteen mainland colonies.  The course begins with Europe’s age of discovery and exploration and ends on the eve of the imperial crisis that led to American independence.  Major themes and topics include religious and political ideals of the colonists, labor systems, economic development, and the cultural exchanges between Europeans, Africans, and native Americans. 

AMST 3050 – 002 (CRN#25437) Sports in America: Issues and Controversies(C)

Obie Nelson, K. TR 8:00 – 9:30

This course explores the relationship between sports, culture, and society. Students will be exposed to the historical, cultural, and sociological aspects of the world of sports. This course will analyze the controversial issues surrounding these aspects as well as evoke critical thinking from the students as they examine sports in their own lives and in the world in which they live. Students will take an in-depth look at such topics as race, gender, commercialization, and the media and how these topics impact, disrupt, and/or distinguish sport society. The course will primarily focus on intercollegiate and professional sports.

AMST 3050 – 003 (CRN#26680) Topics in AMST: Social Media in American Culture

Coles, S. 100% On Line

This 100% online course incorporates thought-provoking resources and activities designed to guide our conversation and exploration of the use and impact of social media on American culture. The goal of the course is to give students the tools and the opportunity to build knowledge related to the current landscape of American culture with the rapid proliferation of social media. Students will examine the influence of social media, including the social networking giant – Facebook, along with Twitter, blogs, and others on material culture, social institutions, attitudes toward the unknown, the arts, and language in American culture. Students will access the Moodle course via the Internet: . An online orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10 at 7:00pm; attendance is highly recommended. A link for the orientation will be provided inside the Moodle course.

AMST 3050 – 090 (CRN#25731) Topics in AMST: History & Culture through Film

Smithwick, K. R 6:30 – 9:15

Cross listed with HIST 3011 – 090.

An examination of twentieth-century historical themes in cultural context through films and scholarly monographs.

AMST 3050 – 091 (CRN#20687) Circus In America Part II: The Modern Years

Jenks, R. M 6:30 – 9:15  

In this course we will study Circus History from the era of the Ringling Brothers through the Golden Age to the New American Circus. We will explore the world of Desperado and other Daredevils, The Great Wallendas, Alfredo Codona, Lillian Leitzel and other high wire acts. Our class will study Clyde Beatty, Mabel Stark, and Gunther Williams and their wild animal acts. We will learn about Emmett Kelly and Otto Griebling and how to put on clown makeup. Bring your cotton candy and get on the circus train.

AMST 3090 – 001 (CRN#20688) Orson Welles: A Life in Cinema

Hoffman, D. MW 9:30 – 10:45

This course will consist of a critical overview of Welles’s major films and will focus upon his identity as the discipline’s earliest and most controversial auteur, one whose essentially “cinematic” view of narrative technique came to characterize his own life and career, from Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons through the lengthy period of his commercial decline, wherein he produced some of his most characteristic and challenging achievements, such as his treatments of Shakespeare, Kafka, and the noir classic Touch of Evil.

AMST 3090 – 002 (CRN#23926) Spielburg’s Munich and the Rise of the Modern Terrorism Film

Hoffman, D. MW 11:00 – 12:15

This course will examine the tragedy of the 1972 Olympic games on film as a paradigm of world events presaging the latter-day war on terror. Precursors to Speilburg's 2005 film will include John Frankenheimer's Black Sunday (1976), 21 Hours at Munich (1976), and Sword of Gideon (1986). Special attention will also be given to source journalism such as George Jonas' Vengeance and the related work of Simon Reeve and Aaron J. Klein.

AMST 3090 – 090 (CRN#25270) American Crime Film

S. Shapiro R 6:30 – 9:15

This course will examine the American crime film, one of our most popular movie genres.  It will look back almost to the birth of cinema itself with D.W. Griffith’s silent gangster film Musketeers of Pig Alley.  At the same time, the course will cast an interrogator's light upon more recent films such as The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men.  Crime films of the past have provided us with a unique and, at times, exaggerated view of American history.  For example, Warner Brothers films of the Depression Era such as Little Caesar and Scarface capitalized upon a national obsession with lawlessness and anarchy. These gangster films had enormous appeal to ticket buyers, who were burdened with their own frustrations and limited opportunities.  In addition to a textbook20122, students will read at least two novels to explore the creative process by which literature is adapted into cinema. 

Other films will include The Public Enemy, The Big Heat, Miller's Crossing, and Chinatown.

AMST 3100 – 001 (CRN#20689) The 1970’s

Kitrick, L. TR 11:00 – 12:15

What do the 1970’s bring to mind? Disco? Leisure suits? That ‘70s Show? Once passed, decades tend to be stereotyped and are actually more contradictory and varied than we remember or imagine them to be. While the 1970’s saw plenty of dancing and too many dads in polyester, the decade also gave birth to glam, punk, and rap. The colorful 1970’s also had a dark side—Watergate, the energy crisis, and continuing outbreaks of violence. The protest movements of the 1960’s became increasingly more radical in the 1970’s while receiving more mainstream attention. In addition, new developments in the arts, marketplace, and government that took place in the seventies continue to affect us today. In this course we will examine the politics, technology, and popular culture (including film, literature, music, and television) that made the 1970’s an especially complex and dynamic decade.

AMST 3100 – 002 (CRN#20690) The 1980’s

McNeil, J. F 9:30 – 12:15

With the release of the 52 Iranian hostages and Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, the 1980’s begin.  The birth of MTV would soon follow, as would a full-blown AIDS pandemic, the Iran-Contra hearings, the invasion of Grenada, the rise of hip-hop, and Reaganomics.  It was a decade of greed and one in which the term ‘yuppie’ was coined.  The 1980’s also saw an explosive growth in media, especially television.  In this class, we will explore the political, social, and artistic landscape of the decade and its impact on American culture today.

AMST 3100 – 003 (CRN#20692) The 1930’s

Belus, M. 100% ON LINE

In this 100% on-line course using Moodle, we will examine how diverse social, economic, artistic, literary, philosophical and political forces shaped American society during the 1930s. We will discuss the complex and multifaceted nature of American culture during a tumultuous era that experienced the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, the demise of the American Dream, the New Deal, and the rise of modern activism. The 1930s powerfully impacted the lives of ordinary people living under extraordinary circumstances. What can we learn from their experiences?

AMST 3100 – 004 (CRN#20694) The 1950’s

Bruner, M. MW 9:30 – 10:45

From the atomic bomb, spies, and Sputnik to Rock and Roll, television, and drive-in movies, this course takes an in-depth look at the fascinating decade of the 1950s in America.

AMST 3100 – 005 (CRN#25245) The 1990’s

Bauerle, S. TR 12:30 – 1:45

The 1990s have been described as one of the most diverse and interesting periods in American history. The underground became mainstream as music, fashion, literature, film, and pop culture strived to test and transcend boundaries as society explored rebellion and idealism. The last decade of the millennium marked an explosion of economic, cultural, technological, and political activity in almost every aspect of American society. Some of the trends that we will trace through the 90s include: the rise of the grunge movement in music, movies, and fashion; the impact of the War on Terror and national traumas like the Oklahoma City Bombing and Los Angeles Riots; and the dramatic cultural transformations surrounding race, gender, and sexuality.

AMST 3100 – 090 (CRN#25246) The 1960’s (Hybrid)

Rutledge, P. W 6:30 – 9:15

Note: This class will be taught as a hybrid online course. That means that instruction and student participation will be divided between in-class meetings and online activities using Moodle. A high-speed internet connection is strongly recommended.

The 1960’s brought serious challenges to authority, the status quo, and the traditional institutions that had previously defined American life. In the early part of this explosive decade, the conservative conformity of the 1950’s gave way to an increasingly direct and hostile questioning of the American Dream. This course will examine the important cultural, social, and political conflicts that emerged in the 1960’s, especially those related to the black civil rights movement, feminism, the Vietnam War, environmentalism, social justice, the youth-base counterculture, and expanding one’s consciousness’ through drug use. These diverse conflicts ultimately brought significant change in American attitudes, values, institutions, and policies.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download