AMST 205

MATERIAL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE

COURSE CALENDAR

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January 30 Introduction - What is American Studies? What is Material Culture? What is HTML?

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February 4 Introduction to HTML Begin Web Pages Reading:
Kouwenhoven, "American Studies: Words or Things?"

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February 6 Kouwenhoven-Hesseltine Debate Work on HTML
Reading
Hesseltine, "The Challenge of the Artifact"

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February 11 Artifact Study - One Way To Do It! HOMEWORK #1 ASSIGNED - Website Bibliography
Reading:
Gilborn, "Pop Pedagogy: Looking at the Coke Bottle"

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February 13 Material Culture of Valentines Day Work on Web Site Bibliography

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February 18 The Nacirema Set-up Picture Directories HOMEWORK #1 DUE
Reading:
Miner "Body Ritual Among The Nacirema"

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February 20 Fleming's Artifact Study Model PROJECT #1 ASSIGNED Paper Plate Analysis
Reading:
Fleming, "Artifact Study: A Proposed Model"

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February 25 What is Material Culture? Work on Paper Plate Analysis
Reading:
Ames, "Meaning In Artifacts"

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February 27 Birthdays and Holidays PROJECT #1 DUE
Reading:
Humphrey, "A Family Celebrates A Birthday"
Sherman, "The Passover Seder"

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March 4 Bedrooms PROJECT #2 ASSIGNED Bedroom Analysis
Reading:
Calvert, "Children In The Home"
Cromley, "A History of American Beds and Bedrooms"

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March 6 Livingrooms and Kitchens
Reading:
Lynes, "The Kitchen"
Lynes, "The Living Room Indoors and Out"

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March 11 Virtual Museums PROJECT #2 DUE HOMEWORK #2 ASSIGNED Smithsonian Website Bibliography
Reading:
McKenzie, Virtual Museums
(http://www.pacificrim.net/~mckenzie/museum/muse.html)

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March 13 What Is A Museum? HOMEWORK #2 DUE PROJECT #3 ASSIGNED Smithsonian Museum Exhibit Analysis
Reading:
Schlereth, "Collecting Ideas and Artifacts"
Weil, "The Proper Business of the Museum"

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March 18 NO CLASS - SMITHSONIAN VISIT This Time Is Banked Toward Your Museum Visit

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March 20 Holocaust Museum Video "For The Living"
Reading:
Crew & Sims, "Locating Authenticity"
Wallace, "The Battle of the Enola Gay"

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SPRING BREAK

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April 1 Smithsonian Museum Discussion
PROJECT #3 DUE
Reading:
Green, Introduction

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April 3 Introduction to Greenbelt, Maryland Greenbelt Maryland Video Homework 3 ASSIGNED Greenbelt Museum Critique
Reading:
Green, Chapter 1, "Work, Struggle, Intolerance"

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April 8 NO CLASS - GREENBELT MUSEUM VISIT This Time Is Banked Toward Your Museum Visit

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April 10 HOMEWORK #3 DUE PROJECT #4 ASSIGNED
Reading:
Gillette, "Back To The Future"
"Model City: Greenbelt, Maryland"

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April 15 HORNBAKE LIBRARY VISIT Meet at Room 3203 Third Floor in Hornbake Library Ann Masnik, American Studies Reference Librarian

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April 17 The Great Depression Video: "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" Discuss Artifact Research Reading:
Green, Chapter 2, "Crash"

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April 22 Meet in Room 1103 Plant Sciences Building Speaker: Ann Denkler, Greenbelt Museum Curator Reading:
Green, Chapter 3, "Houses and Homes"

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April 24 Choose Virtual Greenbelt Projects PROJECT #4 DUE PROJECT #5 ASSIGNED Virtual Greenbelt Exhibit
Reading:
Cowan, "The Industrial Revolution In The Home"
Cohen, "Embellishing A Life of Labor"

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April 29 Virtual Greenbelt
Reading: Green, Chapter 4, "Growing Up, Going Out, Getting Old"

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May 1 What Is Material Culture? Video: "Home: The Langston Terrace Dwellings"
Reading:
Green, Chapter 5, "The Healthy Table and the Healthy Home"

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May 6 DRAFT Virtual Greenbelt Projects DUE
Reading:
Green, Chapter 6, "Playing"

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May 8 Work Session

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May 13 PROJECT #5 DUE Virtual Greenbelt Exhibit Move Files To WAM

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May 20PROJECT #6 DUE (No Class) Final Portfolios

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



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