Fall 2023 BC110 Course Descriptions

Does America really run on Dunkin? Do you have to have at least one Pumpkin Spice Latte each fall? Students will examine what our country's obsession with coffee says about us as a culture. How did a hot drink found across the world become an essential part of most people's days? Where did this magical bean even come from? We will also analyze how coffee plays a role in our economy, both on a micro and macro level. Finally we will ponder the potential scarcity of this beverage and how changes from bean growth to consumption must happen in order for future generations to have a Gingerbread Latte every December.

As the success of Oceans Eleven suggests, many of us are captivated by heists. But why? I doubt we condone theft, but heists seem to capture something different: that rare combination of unusual daring, tremendous skill, and careful execution. In this class we will look beyond traditional bank heists to more unusual robberies of orchids, feathers, paintings, maps, cheese, and more! We will examine what is at stake in these heists: should we see them as relatively innocent capers or full-blown crimes? These heists also will give us glimpses into subcultures that revolve around rare objects and will prompt us to explore what we value—and why.

Music is a universal human experience. Come explore how humans perceive music and use it to find meaning in life. We'll study a variety of topics, including music and the brain, music in society, and music's ability to bring people together. Through writings about music and scientific research, we will investigate how humanity is enriched by this complex and powerful art form.

Human beings have always desired to see themselves in the stories of their time. In this class, we'll examine how the media we consume consciously and subconsciously both directs our behavioral choices and impacts how we see ourselves. We will study plays, films, music (and yes, even TikTok), to analyze their effects on our individual and cultural identities. Please be aware that this class will explore sensitive subjects and material that some may find objectionable or uncomfortable. The goal is to unpack this and figure out WHY!

In this seminar, we inspect the intersection of contemporary economic, social, and political issues to gain a better understanding of the choices and opportunities that modern communities face. How can we decide to increase military funding and mistrust the government? How can pro-choice arguments and arguments to end capital punishment be logically coherent? When does a Tweet, a Facebook post, or a blog comment become evidence in court? This course inspects divisive contemporary issues and asks students to reflect on how brilliant, ethical, and reasonable people disagree on topics that impact our daily lives.

There is more than meets the eye in storytelling. Music plays an important role in character and story development in film. It helps to deepen our understanding of the narrative by giving us insight into the characters, cultures, time periods, and worlds portrayed. Through writings about music and film, we will explore how music provides us a deeper understanding of the films we love.

In this class we will undertake the serious study of some rather unserious things. We will explore the ways that popular culture (such as television, social media, advertising, and film) shapes our perceptions of ourselves and our relationship to the world around us. Rather than merely consuming cultural products, we will analyze how the producers of American popular culture have responded to - and often been at the forefront of - cultural and societal change.

What tunes are on your smartphone's playlist? Who is your favorite artist or group? What appeals to you most about the music? Are the lyrics deep or just for fun? What amount of time do you spend with your AirPods/earbuds in? What meaning do you find in the music to which you listen? These are just a few of the questions that we will consider in our survey of the many facets of American popular music, from its roots to contemporary rap, alternative, country, etc. The course will proceed in reverse chronology, starting with the music and musicians with which you are most familiar, then turning back the hands of time, focusing also on the social trends that have influenced the growth of this music. You will have assigned readings and listening examples, and will, over the course of the semester, have the opportunity to discuss, research, write and present on a wide variety of topics associated with the music, the musicians, and the meaning of America's popular music from the last 70 years.

When Superman was first published in 1938 by two Jewish kids from Cleveland, his biography reflected authors who knew the Bible. Every superhero after him contains elements of religion and mythology. As a result, many scholars now claim that superheroes are the new American gods. The purpose of this course is to analyze the influence religion has on comic books and their creators. The focus will be on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam but students will have the option to look at other religions as well. As a result, several main topics and events will be examined such as the Holocaust, Evangelicalism, and 9-11. The mediums will not remain on comic books alone and the course will also include graphic novels, movies, and cartoons.

We will consider travel, particularly international travel, from several points of view. While travel increases our ability to think critically, our creativity, and our open-mindedness, it can also harm the people and places that we visit, contribute to climate change, and challenge our moral behavior. Further, travel is the privilege of the few, creating disparity between the ''travelers'' and the ''travel-nots.'' We will engage with psychological and philosophical research as well as travel literature to investigate the ''best practices'' of travel, travel equity, and, to a lesser extent, globalization.

Check it. This class is, like, so bitchin' because you will finally get that whole Sam and Diane thing, figure out if you're the rebel, the geek or the outcast, and understand why August 1, 1981, was actually the beginning of the world. Gen Z translation: we will analyze how writers of American literature and producers of American television, film and music responded to - or in some cases, became - significant historical and cultural events of the 1980s. We will also discuss how these issues and artistic responses are as much a part of our current cultural moment as they are a part of our past. As we do so, we will practice and work to refine every aspect of successful academic writing and intellectual conversation, including: critical reading and analytical thinking, audience awareness, argument development, and the art and craft of language.

What does the future of humanity hold? Countless filmmakers, authors and television creators have explored this unknowable question. In this class we will watch, read, discuss and write about films, short stories, graphic novels, and television series that are set in the future. We will compare and critically analyze these fictional visions, reflecting on what we can learn from them about the ethical dilemmas facing societies today. Works will cover a broad spectrum of time periods, genres and tones, including the classic film Metropolis, recent films such as Downsizing, short stories of Harlan Ellison, excerpts from the novel The Handmaid's Tale, episodes of Doctor Who, and more.

We will explore our obsession with true crime in American culture. Through documentaries, readings, and podcasts we will examine sociological perspectives, motives, and typologies of criminal behavior and bust popular myths. Throughout the course we will investigate serial killing, murder, domestic terrorism, cults, and more.

We will examine the impact of historical sporting events and figures on modern sports and society. We will explore the roots of American sport and the emergence of multi-billion dollar spectator sports at the collegiate and professional level. Students will gain a better understanding and appreciation of sports history and reflect on how their lives have been influenced by sports.

Do you enjoy movies about history? I certainly do. As a history professor I get lots of questions about the accuracy of specific historical movies. Take your pick, 300, Kingdom of Heaven, The King, Outlaw King, The Dig, and most recently the 2022 German version of All Quiet on the Western Front. BUT, while looking for errors can be interesting, what I enjoy more is how movies and historical series reflect the values, trends, attitudes, and issues of the time that they were made. So, if you enjoy historical movies and series about history, you will have some fun in this class and learn so important skills for college and beyond.