Blog

This course offers students an introductory survey,to the cultural, intellectual, social, and,institutional histories of consumption in the,United States. In particular students focus on,four issues: the development of the mass market at,the end of the nineteenth century, the cultural,and institutional histories of advertising and,marketing, consumption and the construction of,gender, race and sexuality and the long-running,debate over the social effects of consumption.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT-102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

This course is designed to meet two broad,objectives: 1) to provide a comprehensive,introduction to the historical narrative of the,city of Detroit and the American urban,experience; and 2) to practice skills of critical,analysis in research, writing and presentation. ,We will accomplish these objectives by,researching primary documents and artifacts;,reading personal narratives; viewing select,documentaries and film clips; listening to guest,speakers representing multiple cultural and racial,viewpoints and visiting a site of historical,significance.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT-102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

Throughout history the term revolution has been,applied broadly to political, social, cultural,,and intellectual change. This course will,examine the anatomy of a revolution and ask how,far social protest must go before it can be,considered a revolution. By using the French,,American, and Russian Revolutions as examples of,”real” revolutions, students will explore,pre-revolutionary engines of social and political,change, how these revolutions unfolded, and their,lasting effects. Also, students will explore,whether other popular protests such as movements,in civil rights labor rights, art, might be,considered revolutions.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT-102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

This course will focus on the causes and,aftermath of World War I. While the war itself,was fought between 1914-1918, consideration of,the causes and aftermath widens our exploration,from 1848 (the “year of revolutions”) to 1939,(the Spanish Civil War). Sometimes called “The,War to End all Wars” or “The Great War”, the,catastrophic events of WWI changed the modern,world. These causes and changes extend from the,middle of the 19th to the middle of the 20th,century, and into our own 21st century. This is,why this war can be considered an endless war. ,World War I affected virtually every field,discipline – from the arts and science, politics,and ideology, geography and anthropology, finance,and popular culture, and the ways we consider,the process of History itself.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT-102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

This course focuses on the interdisciplinary,study of aspects of American culture through its,music. We will explore the cultural,interrelationship of the social, political,,economic, historical and aesthetic influences,that have formed the context and development of,American music genres. Throughout we emphasize,popular, innovative and sometimes experimental,musical forms and their basis in individual,communities. In that process we explore what,seems to have made musical forms “speak” to our,ancestors and to us. We also explore how the,rise of mass-market music and the music industry,has affected this history. Classes combine,discussion of reading materials, discussion of,films, presentations from guest musicians and,music historians, and, above all, listening to,music.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT-102 and any 200 level Liberal Arts (General Education),subject.

The Special Project class is offered on an,occasional basis, with course content specific to,the area being explored.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: