Self-Making in the American Im

Catalog description

Mega-stars like Steve Jobs and Beyoncé and key political and cultural figures like Abraham Lincoln and Anne Bradstreet are all routinely described as 'self-made'. The American belief that individuals achieve financial, political and social success exclusively on their own is crucial to understanding the U.S. and its impact on the world. This course looks at the historical origins of self-making and its cultural representations from the colonial era to the present. It prepares students to understand how the theme of self-determination shapes culture, identity and politics in the U.S. and in how Americans often engage with other cultures and countries. 001366