Out of Place: Regional Boundaries and their Transgression in Novels, Photography, Public…

Catalog description

This class explores the meaning of "region" in contemporary American culture. Focusing primarily on the West, we'll examine the construction and transgression of geographical and ideological regional boundaries. Questions considered include: What does crossing boundaries tell us about hte stability and meaning of region? What role do race, gender, and nationality play in moving across regional lines? What do shifting regional identities tell us about the possibilities and problems in ways of transforming identity? Sources include fiction, essays, websites, and photography. We use skills and ideas built over the semester to consider the ways museums and other public sites construct regional boundaries. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors and seniors, with priority given to American Studies concentrators.