Bones of the Nation

Catalog description

Think about what the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, and Arlington National Cemetery symbolize for the United States. Think about the lasting impact of the deaths of Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. on our collective identity. Bones of a Nation examines the concept of nationalism through the medium of popular imagery. The course considers how national identities are created, maintained, and transformed, revealing some national skeletons along the way. Drawing on global examples, students use both primary and secondary sources to trace the origins and development of these compelling symbols of nationhood. No prerequisite. (Offered every other spring semester.) Credit 4