Past As Present

Catalog description

As William Faulkner wrote in his novel Requiem for a Nun, "The past isn't dead. It's not even the past." In this course, we will explore just how true that statement is as we study how past events continue to affect peoples' present-day lives. We will narrow this topic by focusing on how under-represented peoples perceive and experience historical events that continue to affect modern society. For example, the Doctrine of Discovery was established in the 16th century through papal decree. And while we may not think of the 500-year-old papal decrees having continued significance or influence in the increasingly secular modern world, the Doctrine of Discovery is seen as a crucial element preventing indigenous peoples in the 21st century from maintaining sovereignty over their own lands. In addition to the Doctrine of Discovery, we will explore the continuing effects of the arrival of people of African descent in Virginia in 1619, the Pilgrims landing on Cape Cod in 1620, and the Manifest Destiny of the 19th Century. Senior standing required.