AMST 205

MATERIAL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE

COURSE CALENDAR

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Sept. 3Introduction -What is American Studies? What is Material Culture? What is HTML?
Sept. 5Introduction to HTML
Reading:
Kouwenhoven, "American Studies: Words or Things?"
Hesseltine, "The Challenge of the Artifact"

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Sept. 10HOMEWORK #1 ASSIGNED - website bibliography
Sept. 12 Artifact Study - One way to do it!
Reading:
Gilborn, "Pop Pedagogy: Looking at the Coke Bottle"
Gordon, "American Denim: Blue Jeans and Their Multiple Layers of Meaning"

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Sept. 17HOMEWORK #1 DUE

Sept. 19HOMEWORK #2 ASSIGNED paper plate exercise

Reading:
Fleming, "Artifact Study: A Proposed Model"
Schlebecker, "The Use of Objects in Historical Research"

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Sept. 24HOMEWORK #2 DUE

Sept. 26 Discussion: Contemporary bedrooms and sleeping spaces PROJECT #1 ASSIGNED - bedroom analysis

Reading:
Macaulay, MOTEL OF THE MYSTERIES
Cromley, "A History of American Beds and Bedrooms"

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Oct. 1FIRST DRAFT PROJECT #1 DUE discuss projects in class, suggestions for improvement

Oct. 3PROJECT #1 DUE - FINAL DRAFT

Reading:
Ascher, "Tin*Can Archaeology"
Ames, "Meaning In Artifacts: Hall Furnishings in Victorian America"

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Oct. 8Motels in American Culture VIDEO CLIPS - "Psycho" and "It Happened One Night" HOMEWORK #3 ASSIGNED - annotated motel bibliography

Oct. 10HOMEWORK #3 DUE HOMEWORK #4 ASSIGNED - motel essay

Reading:
"Heartbreak Motel" Time Magazine, May 29, 1995
Jackle, "Motel By The Roadside"

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Oct. 15DRAFT HOMEWORK #4 DUE

Oct. 17Discussion - How to look at a museum exhibition HOMEWORK #4 DUE HOMEWORK #5 ASSIGNED - Critique Smithsonian Web Site

Reading:
Crew and Sims, "Locating Authenticity"
Weil, "The Proper Business of the Museum"

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Oct. 22Discussion - Smithsonian Web Site PROJECT #2 ASSIGNED - Critique of Smithsonian exhibit

Oct. 24NO CLASS This time is banked toward your museum visit

Reading:
Schlereth, "Collecting Ideas and Artifacts"

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Oct. 29Discussion - Museum Visit VIDEO, Museums and Material Culture

Oct. 31Discussion - The Material Culture of Halloween PROJECT #2 - FIRST DRAFT DUE

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Nov. 5Introduction to the Greenbelt Museum VIDEO, Greenbelt: The Ideal City VIDEO, Brother Can Your Spare A Dime

Virtual Greenbelt Website
PROJECT #2 - FINAL DRAFT DUE

HOMEWORK #6 ASSIGNED - Written reaction to Greenbelt

Nov. 7NO CLASS This time is banked toward your Greenbelt Museum visit

Reading: Greenbelt Material on Reserve in American Studies Department Office

Recommended Viewing: The City - on Dial Access in UMCP Libraries
Channel 47, 33 min. every hour on the hour the Week of November 3-9

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Nov. 12HOMEWORK #6 DUE PROJECT #3 ASSIGNED - Greenbelt Museum Website Exhibit

Nov. 14HOMEWORK #7 ASSIGNED - Artifact Analysis Choose final project topics, teams

Reading:
Cowan, "The Industrial Revolution in the Home"
Cohen, "Embellishing a Life of Labor"

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Nov. 19Discussion - Bedrooms and sleeping arrangements

Nov. 21HOMEWORK #7 DUE

Reading:
Calvert, "Children in the Home"
Braden, "The Family That Plays Together Stays Together"

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Nov. 26Discussion - Virtual Museums

Nov. 28THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS

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Dec. 3PROJECT #3 - FIRST DRAFT DUE

Dec. 5PROJECT #3 Discussion

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Dec. 10PROJECT #3 - FINAL DRAFT DUE HOMEWORK #8 ASSIGNED - Final Portfolios

Dec. 17HOMEWORK #8 DUE (No Class)

THERE WILL BE NO FINAL EXAM IN AMST 205 - have a good vacation!



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