Courses in American Studies

The history and culture of the United States cannot be thought of separately from those of Asia and the Pacific. From the "City on the Hill" to Manifest Destiny and beyond, the momentum of expansion into the Pacific has catalyzed culture and politics in the U.S. This course examines the intertwined histories of the U.S. and the Pacific, focusing on regions, nations, and empires. We will explore the ways that these regions constituted each other over the course of their shared history, with an aim towards understanding the history of the U.S. as part of a larger history of the world. Through economic, diplomatic, military, cultural, and community histories, we will consider encounters and contestations between the U.S. and the Pacific, to explore the shifting, contradictory emergence of ideas and conceptions of "America."

Format: seminar/discussion. Evaluation will be based on class participation, weekly response papers, a cumulative review essay (5-7 pages), and a final paper (10-15 pages).

Prerequisites: No prerequisites. Expected enrollment: 10. Preference will be given to American Studies majors.

Hour:1:10-3:50 W