AMST0327A-S25
Imagining Rural America
Imagining Rural America
Although many Americans equate “rural” with whiteness, political conservatism, and poverty, the realities and representations of rural life have always been complicated those notions. Using methodologies from geography, cultural history, folklore, and literary criticism, and privileging lenses of race, class, and gender, we will explore these complexities by analyzing novels, paintings, photographs, moving images, and music against the histories of Appalachia, the Rust Belt, the Dust Bowl, and New England. Texts may include Richard Wright’s Twelve Million Black Voices, The Grapes of Wrath (novel and film), paintings of Thomas Hart Benton and Edward Hopper, Winter’s Bone, O Brother Where Art Thou?/, and the music of John Prine and Steve Earle.
Although many Americans equate “rural” with whiteness, political conservatism, and poverty, the realities and representations of rural life have always been complicated those notions. Using methodologies from geography, cultural history, folklore, and literary criticism, and privileging lenses of race, class, and gender, we will explore these complexities by analyzing novels, paintings, photographs, moving images, and music against the histories of Appalachia, the Rust Belt, the Dust Bowl, and New England. Texts may include Richard Wright’s Twelve Million Black Voices, The Grapes of Wrath (novel and film), paintings of Thomas Hart Benton and Edward Hopper, Winter’s Bone, O Brother Where Art Thou?/, and the music of John Prine and Steve Earle.
- Term:
- Spring 2025
- Location:
- Axinn Center 219(AXN 219)
- Schedule:
- 12:45pm-2:00pm on Monday, Wednesday (Feb 10, 2025 to May 12, 2025)
- Type:
- Lecture
- Course Modality:
- In-Person
- Instructors:
- William Nash
- Subject:
- American Studies
- Department:
- Program in American Studies
- Division:
- Interdisciplinary
- Requirements Fulfilled:
- AMR ART LIT
- Levels:
- Undergraduate
- Cross-Listed As:
- ENGL0327A-S25
- Availability:
- View availability, prerequisites, and other requirements.
- Course Reference Number (CRN):
- 22182
- Subject Code:
- AMST
- Course Number:
- 0327
- Section Identifier:
- A