ENVI 405(F) Automobiles and American Civilization (Same as American Studies 405)
The automobile has exercised a profound role in American life and culture: the rise of new industries-in notably automobile manufacture, petroleum, and road construction; in the design of cities and the structure of the economy; in shaping personal finances and self-image; and, not least, in defining the scope and scale of the environmental impact of Americans' consumption and work lives. In short, cars and their associated technological systems and social institutions offer approaches to American culture and history rich in insight and diverse perspectives. This course is the initial offering of a research seminar on the roles of the automobile in American civilization, together with discussion of the potential transformations of those roles in light of environmental and social considerations and technological feasibility. The scope of the automobile's influence defies conventional ideas of cost versus benefit. Yet, as other countries achieve prosperity, the influence of the auto and its culture takes on global significance. Efforts to move automotive design and transportation engineering toward more environmentally-sustainable paths will be examined, in light of the historical and cultural place of the automobile in American society. Students enrolling in the course will develop a research proposal and a complete draft of a research paper. The final version of the research project may be completed during winter study, when a presentation of the project will be offered in a public forum.