Syllabus

American Dreams/American Realities

History 126D (CZ), Fall 2006

Gerald L. Wilson
gwilson@asdean.duke.edu
04 Allen Building
684-2865

Course Requirements

Focus of Course

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)
Miller, Arthur, Death of a Salesman
Moody, Anne, Coming of Age in Mississippi
DeParle, Jason, American Dreams
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 three of these sessions, three page 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. Students who are absent from a meeting of the discussion group, whether the absence is excused or unexcused, will be required to present a one page double-spaced reflection/commentary on the readings by the next meeting of the class

Dates and Assignments for Discussion Groups (additional handouts may be distributed. Schedule may be adjusted if necessary)

September 1 – Introduction-Discussion of “The American Character”
September 8 – Success Myth – Course PAK – Chapters I & II
September 15 – Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman
September 22 - Frontier Myth- David Potter People of Plenty, Part II
1st Paper Due
September 29 – Agrarian Myth Handouts- The Selling of Rural America- Ideal Farms vs. Industrial Farms.

October 6 – Foreign Devil Myth Handout- A Nation Defined By Its Enemies- Conspiracy Within-: The Wheeling West Virginia Speech of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
“The Klan’s Fight for America”

October 13 – City on a Hill Myth Handout- 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

October 20 - Myths- Transitions and Transformations
(Course pak) Chapter III, People of Plenty, Chapter IV

October 27 - Arthur M. Schlesinger Handout- Disuniting of America,
2nd Paper Due

November 3 - The new Immigrants and the Myths Handouts- “ A Map of New York”. “I Lift my Lamp, Behind the Golden Door,” “A Test of Opportunity, Not Character”.

November 10 - The Myths in the 1920’s Handout- The New Woman and the Old Myths
(Handouts) Declaration of Sentiments (1848), “The Feminine Mystique”, “The Glass Ceiling”

November 17 – Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi

December 1 - The 1960’s Handout- Michael Harringtion, “The Other America” and John Hellman, American Myths and the Legacy of Vietnam
3rd Paper Due

December 8 – Discussion: The Summing Up – Whither the Myths?

III. Examinations

Mid Term –Wednesday, October 4, 2006

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 116 Allen Building to arrange an appointment. Since priority will be given to class members, please identify yourself as a member of the class.