Pedagogical Goals | Syllabus | Tour Itinerary
Pre-Arrival Reading List | Bibliography

Syllabus

July 7, Thursday

Morning
American Writing in a Global Context: Hemingway’s In Our Time

Afternoon
Melting Pot/Culture Clash: Contemporary America and the Questions of Language, Law and Rights
Stan Howard

Readings: Martin Luther King, "Speeches"; Malcolm X Speaks; “How the Jews Became White,” (Chapter 3) from Race, Class and Gender in the United States

July 8, Friday

Morning
Mass Culture and High Culture in Contemporary American Literature and Media
Peter Hales

Readings: Sections from Peter Hales’s new book, Outside the Gates on American television; the transistor radio and the rise of youth culture and popular music in the ‘60s.

Viewings: DVD episodes of I Love Lucy, The Donna Reed Show; and VCR episodes of Lassie

Afternoon
African-American Culture: Identity and the Question of Race—Reading the Blues
Sterling Plumpp

Reading: Robert Palmer, Deep Blues

Evening
Blues Tour
Time: 8:00pm
Meeting Location: Residence Halls, Atrium

Sterling Plumpp will lead us to blues clubs in Chicago that are presenting the most interesting music.

July 9, Saturday

Chicago Steppin’
Participants join Stan and his dance class in an afternoon of Chicago steppin’ and other dance styles.

July 10, Sunday

Religion In America: Two Churches

While participants have the opportunity (and are encouraged, with lists of services and religious facilities, and other materials) to worship as they please, this Sunday takes the group to two different Protestant churches: an African-American “gospel” church with a charismatic preacher, and the upper-crust Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue’s “Magnificent Mile.”

July 11, Monday

Morning
Identity Politics and American Popular Culture: The Godfather and The Sopranos
Chris Messenger

July 12, Tuesday

Special Session: American Education at Work--On Location at Evanston Township High School and Englewood High School, Chicago
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Residence Hall, First Floor Lounge

Morning
Tour of Evanston Township High School: American Education at Work

Evanston Township High School is one of the richest and best-equipped and -staffed high schools in the United States. It is also one of the few where there is a very wide gulf between rich and poor, and where Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic students each form a significant bloc of the student population. A meeting with one of the school's Principals, with faculty and staff and a chance to observe classes in action, will give us a taste of the school system.

Afternoon
American Schooling Part II: Englewood High School

Englewood High School is a public high school in the city of Chicago, serving a largely African-American and poor constituency, facing the challenges of a troubled urban neighborhood with far fewer resources and less money than Evanston. Our visit will include discussion with the Principal, with faculty, staff and students in summer session.

July 13, Wednesday

Morning
Native American Literature and Culture
LaVonne Ruoff

Afternoon
General Tour Orientation – 1:30-3:00pm
Peter Hales and Alicia Boada

3:00 PM: Packing!

Evening
Farewell to Chicago Dinner and Celebration

July 14, Thursday

Morning
Final Plenary: Things Fall Apart? Tensions of Unity and Diversity in American Cultural Life
Peter Hales, Sharon Holland, Stan Howard, and Chris Messenger

Afternoon
Isn't Anything Authentic Anymore? Region, Subculture and Culture in Contemporary America
Peter Hales

Readings: Tony Hillerman, The Ghostway, Raymond Friday Locke, Book of the Navajo (excerpts in packet); Keith Cunningham, American Indians' Kitchen-Table Stories: Contemporary Conversations...: (sections on Pueblo and Navajo in packet).

Final Feedback Session
This will be our opportunity to talk about the loose ends: the best and worst of the Institute; and your suggestions for its improvement.