131-416 Current Themes in American History

Formally available as 131-143. Students who have completed 131-143 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This is an advanced seminar.

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in history, gender studies or American studies.

This subject examines issues of race and gender in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will consider race and gender at different places and times, separately and in association with each other. What has led historians to focus on these issues, and what problems arise when we do so? Interactions of men and women, and issues involving white Americans, African Americans, Native Americans and other minority groups will be analysed in social, political and cultural arenas. We explore the insights that arise from an analysis based on gender and race in traditional areas of American history such as slavery, imperialism and war, the woman's movement, assimilation and the history of the frontier. In addition, students will examine new areas of history suggested by this focus: the study of 'whiteness', interracial relationships, identity politics, and changing ideas of masculinity and femininity. The course concludes with a scrutiny of pertinent legal cases and pop culture phenomena from the last decade of the twentieth century.

Written work totalling 5000 words.

A subject reader will be available.