AMST 205
MATERIAL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE
COURSE CALENDAR
September 2
Introduction - What is American
Studies?
What is Material Culture?
What is HTML?
September 4
Introduction to HTML
Reading:
Kouwenhoven, "American Studies: Words or Things?"
September 9
Kouwenhoven-Hesseltine Debate
HOMEWORK #1 ASSIGNED - Website Bibliography
Reading:
Hesseltine, "The Challenge of the Artifact"
September 11
Artifact Study - One way to do it!
Reading:
Fleming, "Artifact Study: A Proposed Model"
September 16
Coke Bottle Discussion
HOMEWORK #1 DUE - Website Bibliography
PROJECT #1 ASSIGNED - Paper Plate Analysis
Reading:
Carson, "Interpreting History Through Objects"
September 18
Paper Plate Discussion
Reading:
Gordon, "American Denim: Blue Jeans and Their Multiple Layers of
Meaning"
September 23
Student Artifact Discussion
PROJECT #1 DUE - Paper Plate Analysis
PROJECT #2 ASSIGNED - Bedroom Description
Reading:
Calvert, "Children In The House, 1890-1930"
September 25
History of Bedrooms
Reading:
Cromley, "A History of American Beds and Bedrooms"
"Revealing Things" Smithsonian Without Walls Website
September 30
Bedroom Discussion:
Masculine/Feminine
PROJECT #2 DUE - Bedroom Description
PROJECT #3 ASSIGNED - Motel Essay
Reading:
Macaulay, MOTEL OF THE MYSTERIES
October 2
History of Motels
VIDEO CLIPS - "Psycho" & "It Happened One Night"
Reading:
Jackle, "Motel By The Roadside: America's Room For The Night"
and Hornblower, "Heartbreak
Motel"
October 7
What Is A Museum?
PROJECT #3 DUE - Motel Essay
HOMEWORK #2 ASSIGNED - Museum Website
Bibliography
Reading:
Weil, "The Proper Business of the Museum: Ideas or Things?"
October 9
VIDEO: "For The Living"
HOMEWORK #3 ASSIGNED - Smithsonian Website
Critique
Reading:
Crew & Sims, "Locating Authenticity"
October 14
CLASS CANCELED
PROJECT #4 ASSIGNED - Smithsonian Exhibit Analysis
Reading:
Schlereth, "Collecting Ideas and Artifacts"
October 16
NO CLASS - SMITHSONIAN VISIT
This time is banked toward your museum visit
October 21
Virtual Museums
HOMEWORK #2 DUE - Museum Website Bibliography
HOMEWORK #3 DUE - Smithsonian Website Critique
Reading:
McKenzie, "Virtual
Museums"
October 23
Discuss Smithsonian Visit
Reading:
Yeingst & Bunch, "Curating The Recent Past"
October 28
The Great Depression
VIDEO, "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?"
PROJECT #4 DUE - Smithsonian Exhibit Analysis
Reading:
Green, "Crash"
October 30
The Material Culture of Halloween
November 4
Introduction to Greenbelt, Maryland
HOMEWORK #4 ASSIGNED - Greenbelt Museum Critique
VIDEO, Greenbelt: The Ideal City
Reading:
VirtualGreenbelt Website
November 6
NO CLASS - GREENBELT MUSEUM
VISIT
This time is banked toward your Greenbelt Museum visit
November 11
How To Research A Refrigerator
HOMEWORK #4 DUE - Greenbelt Museum Critique
PROJECT #5 ASSIGNED - Refrigerator as Artifact
Reading:
Gillette, "Back To The Future"
November 13
Refrigerator Research & Links
Reading:
Lines, "The Kitchen"
November 18
Greenbelt and Langston Terrace
VIDEO, "Home: The Langston Terrace
Dwellings"
PROJECT #5 DUE - Refrigerator as Artifact
PROJECT #6 ASSIGNED - Virtual Greenbelt Exhibit
Reading:
"Model City: Greenbelt, Maryland"
November 20
Greenbelt Curator Visit
Reading:
Green: "Playing"
November 25
Virtual Greenbelt Projects
November 27
THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASS
December 2
Discuss Virtual Greenbelt Project
Links
PROJECT #6 FIRST DRAFT DUE
December 5
What Is Material Culture?
Class Critique on Web Chat
December 9
Move Files To WAM
PROJECT #6 DUE - Virtual Greenbelt Exhibit
THERE WILL BE NO FINAL EXAM IN AMST 205
RETURN to AMST205 Syllabus