This course examines the role of such myths as “success,
agrarian, “city on the hill”, “frontier”
and the “foreign devil” in defining the American character
and determining the hopes, fears, dreams and actions throughout
American History. Attention will be given to the surface consistency
of these myths as accepted by each immigrant group versus the shifting
content of the myths as they chance to reflect the hopes and values
of each of these groups.
I. Required Reading
Rosenbloum, Robert and Gerald Wilson, The Value of Myth
(course pak)
Wiess, Richard, The American Myth of Success
Potter David, People of Plenty
Moody, Anne, Coming of Age in Mississippi
Reisman, David, The Lonely Crowd
Hellman, John, American Myth and the Legacy of Viet Nam
Schlesinger, Arthur M., The Disuniting of America
Additional readings as assigned.
II. Discussion Groups and Written Assignments
Each student will enroll in one discussion section. Discussion
sections will meet at the designated times approximately every
week and will center around the specific assignments to be made
at meetings of the discussion sections. For some of these sessions,
papers on assigned readings and topics will be required. Late
papers will be accepted with a penalty of one-half letter grade
per class period.
Dates and Assignments for Discussion Groups (additional handouts
may be distributed. Schedule may be adjusted if necessary)
January 21 – Success Myth – Course
PAK – Chapters I & II
January 28 – Success Myth - Richard Weiss,
The American Myth of Success
February 04 - Frontier Myth- David Potter People
of Plenty, Part II
February 11 – Agrarian Myth Handouts- “The
Selling of Rural America”- “Ideal Farms vs. Industrial
Farms”.
1st Paper Due
February 18 – Foreign Devil Myth Handouts-
“A Nation Defined By Its Enemies- Conspiracy Within”-
“The Wheeling West Virginia Speech of Senator Joseph McCarthy”.
February 25 – City on a Hill Myth Handouts-
Reagan’s Speech, Governor Mario Cuomo Challenges President
Reagan’s Portrayal of Americans as a Shinning City on a
Hill. People of Plenty, Chapter VI
March 04- Myths- Transitions and Transformations
(Course pak) Chapter III, People of Plenty, Chapter IV
March 11- Arthur M. Schlesinger Handout- Disuniting
of America, Handout, New Patriots
2nd Paper Due
March 25- “A Map of New York”, “I
lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door”, “A Test of Opportunity”-Handouts
April 01- The Myths in the 1920’s: The
new women and the Old Myths –Handouts, Betty Friedman, The
Feminine Mystique, Nanneral Kefhone Analyzes the “Glass
Ceiling”
April 8- Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi
April 15- The 1960’s Handout- Michael
Harringtion, “The Other America”
April 22- John Hellman, American Myths and
the Legacy of Viet Nam
3rd Paper Due
III. Examinations
Mid Term –Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Final – At the time period designated
by the University Schedule Committee
IV. Evaluation of Performance
Evaluation of a student’s performance will be based on three
factors:
(1) Performance on the mid-term and final examination (55%).
(2) Quality of the written assignments, and attendance at, and
participation in, discussion sections (35%).
(3) Class attendance and participation (10%).
Should a student excel in one of the three categories, addition
weight may be placed on that category in assessing the student’s
final grade.
Please note that classes will meet every Monday and Wednesday
for lectures. Discussion sections will meet on Fridays unless
otherwise indicated. Excessive absences from lectures or discussion
group meetings will weight heavily in the assignment of the final
grade.
V. Questions/Problems
The Instructor will seek to be available to students form discussion
of matters pertaining to the course. Please call 684-2865 or come
by 04 Allen Building to arrange an appointment. Since priority
will be given to class members, please identify yourself as a
member of the class.
