Monuments, Museums, and the Politics of the Past. 4

Catalog description

This course explores conflicts over monuments, museums, public naming practices, and other evocations of the past in American society. We will begin with the premise that history is a story we tell about the past, not the past itself. History is therefore always produced in the present, under particular social and political conditions. It is always political, since it is always embedded in power relations. Through public history (history conveyed in public places), social groups assert their place in the public sphere, making claims about who belongs and who does not. Dominant and subordinate groups compete over narratives, space, and meaning. The production of public history has as much to do with the present and future as it does with the past. It raises fundamental questions about society and identity. Who are we? What matters most to us? What is our relationship to this place? Who do we aspire to become? You will study specific commemorative projects, including war monuments and memorials. The assertion and critique of white supremacy will be a major theme. The course will involve local field trips and a required two-night trip to Washington, D.C. At the end of the course you will design and pitch your own commemorative projects, working in small groups.