AMS 2022/HIS 2054

AMERICAN PLACES II

 Prof. Colin Morris

Reid 412 (x5144)

morrisc@mville.edu

 

American Places II is an introduction to the interdisciplinary methods of American Studies at Manhattanville College.  It examines the meanings of particular places in the American landscape from the varying perspectives of history, literature, sociology, art history and film studies.  The course has no pre-requisites and is open to all students.

 

 

Part I: Jefferson’s Virginia

Jack McLoughlin, Jefferson and Monticello: Biography of a Builder

Thomas Jefferson, Notes On Virginia (handout)

Barbara Chase-Riboud, Sally Hemings

Film: Sally Hemings

 

Part II: The Lone Star: Texas

Albert A. Nofi, The Alamo and the Texas War For Independence

Larry McMurtry, In A Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas

Dina Temple-Raston, A Death in Texas

Film: Hud

 

Part III:  The Last Frontier: Cyberspace

Bruce Sterling, The Hacker Crackdown

William Gibson, Neuromancer

John Heileman, Pride Before the Fall: The Trials of Bill Gates and the End of the Microsoft Era

Film: War Games

  

Course Requirements:

Writing Assignments: 50%

Final exam: 25%

In-class participation: 25%

 

Office: Reid 412

Phone: 323-5144

Email: morrisc@mville.edu