UE: Myth of the American West

Catalog description

The romance of the frontier and the lure of the American West has long captured the imagination of writers, artists, and philosophers, and contributed significantly to our understanding of America today. This course introduces students to the myth of the American West and its philosophical and practical implications through artistic and literary representations. Using a variety of written and visual texts, students will investigate the importance of bioregional and cultural boundaries; additional topics include the elusive location of the frontier, the impact of colonizing forces, and questions of public land usage and ownership.