In this seminar, we will consider whether suburbia's reputation is deserved as we explore the people, the environment, and the values associated with American suburbs, particularly in the post-WWII era. We'll pose questions about the meanings and the social, political, economic, racial and gender implications of suburbia and consider why, given the stringent criticisms of suburban life, so many Americans continue to strive to live there. Over the course of the semester, we will analyse the evolv ing patterns of postwar suburban life from a variety of perspectives: history, literature, film, journalism, sociology, architecture, and material cul ture.

Students will undertake a modest project of original research focusing on the history and suburban culture of nearby Greenbelt, MD, and share their reports by mounting them on a World Wide Web site (online). Through readings/viewings, discussions, class participation, and the completion and presentation of their research projects, students will develop skills for understanding this wide spread contemporary cultural form that many believe represents the American Dream itself.