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The Immigrant City in the United States, 1880-1924
HIST328 SP

Crosslistings: AMST328,WMST328

The formation--in the wake of massive immigration--of ethnic cultural enclaves in U.S. cities played a decisive role in shaping both literal and figurative cityscapes in the years that American culture made the transition to modernity. This seminar examines both the adaptation of traditional cultures to the urban context and the collision of these cultures with the dominant WASP ideology shared by reformers, politicians, literati and nativists alike. Particular attention will be paid to the ways eth nic and religious differences modulated class and gender systems. Paintings, photographs, architecture and film will supplement written sources.

MAJOR READINGS

Bodnar, THE TRANSPLANTED Kasson, AMUSING THE MILLION Yans-McLaughlin, IMMIGRATION RECONSIDERED Kraut, SILENT TRAVELLERS Glenn, DAUGHTERS OF THE SHTETL Orsi, THE MADONNA OF 115TH STREET Jacobson, SPECIAL SORROWS Rozenzweig, EIGHT HOURS FOR WHAT WE WILL Yung, UNBOUND FEET Selections from the fiction, journalism and autobiographical literature of the period.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Each student will be required to keep a journal, to make a brief class presentation during the course of the semester and to submit a major research paper/project at the end of the term or write three shorter papers due at regular intervals during the term.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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