Drew University Moodle

This course focuses on modernist and avant-garde artistic practices during the first half of the 20th century in Europe and the United States. It explores these practices as creative responses to the world-historical events of World War I, economic crises, rise of Fascism, and World War II, which threatened the expression of personal freedoms and the practice of collective political and social life.

In this course you will examine the African-American struggle for equality in America, the various ways African-Americans have defined themselves and their position in American society from the Civil War to the present, and the ways African Americans connected to a larger Pan-African world. You will conduct this examination by analyzing primary documents and the various interpretations historians have given to the history of African-Americans in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Topics in the course will include: African-Americans in American wars; the aesthetics of the African-American community as expressed through its diverse artistic creations; African-American leaders, institutions, publications, and organizations; the roles of and the relationship between gender, race, and class; African Americans and their impact on the larger world, and the relationships between African-Americans and the American political system.

As you examine the historical narratives and themes of the African-American experience, you will also analyze the historical methods scholars use to pose questions, gather evidence, evaluate and interpret sources, and persuasively argue a clearly defined point of view. By studying these historical methods, you will learn how to use these skills—research, analysis and writing--in your own work.

This is a writing intensive course, and as such, you will use writing to learn how to create a historical narrative; to argue a point of view; to pose historical questions; and to analyze primary and secondary sources. Throughout the semester, you will work on your writing in class and in homework assignments. Writing intensive also means that writing assignments for this course are on-going.

The course format includes daily reading assignments, informal and formal lectures, small group and class discussions, class presentations, in-class writing exercises and films. Any schedule changes will be announced in class, sent via e-mail and posted on Moodle.