Drinking in America: History & Culture.

Catalog description

What can a drink tell us about society, power, and identity? This course examines the social, political, and cultural roles of alcohol in American life, from colonial taverns and temperance movements to Prohibition, southern moonshining, and contemporary "sober curious" trends. Students investigate who drank what, where, and why, analyzing how drinking practices reflect and shape social identities, class, region, and national belonging. Through historical research, media analysis, and ethnography, students produce creative projects including zines, podcasts, exhibits, and data visualizations that synthesize evidence and interpretation to reveal the complex historical and cultural significance of alcohol in the United States.