Capitalism and Individualism in American Culture

Catalog description

This small discussion course traces ideas about individualism and capitalism in the U.S., from colonial times to the present. We will focus on three main themes: 1) the relationship between capitalism, work, and identity; 2) changing definitions of success and failure; and 3) the historical origins of students' attitudes toward 1 and amp; 2. In short, we will study the economics and emotions of the American dream: how class, race, gender, occupation, success, failure, and ambition shape our identities. Readings include The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, poems by the enslaved writer Phillis Wheatley, studies by Alexis de Tocqueville and Max Weber, writings of Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Malcolm Gladwell, Andrew Carnegie's classic essay "Gospel of Wealth," Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, and excerpts from recent memoirs by Cathy Park Hong and Wajahat Ali. Grading is based on a notebook in which students must keep notes on readings and class discussions and make unprompted entries, as well as on required attendance and participation in discussion. This course meets the Dietrich Gen Ed "Humanities" requirement.