A&S 230 Social Memory

Shared representations of the past both reflect and shape social identities. Because societies are heterogeneous, differing views of the past coexist, and history itself can become a battleground. What are the outcomes of clashes over the interpretation of past events? How are distinct visions of the past preserved over the generations? Through a rigorous schedule of readings and writing, culminating in a final research project, students consider the many ways in which the past enters everyday lives and may even shape the future. [W]

Prerequisite

A&S 102 or A&S 103

Instructor

Smith