Comparative American Urban Cultures



	Readings Faye Ng, Bone Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street Nathaniel West, Day of the Locust Timothy W. Drescher, San Francisco Bay Area Murals Course Description This course will examine the cultural geography of contemporary American urban spaces as sites for the development of the personal, social, and political experiences of late-twentieth century American identity. Focusing on literary, visual (film and other representational forms) and musical arts, we will consider the communicative, expressive roles of popular and vernacular art and the ways that they are interpreted by readers, viewers, and listeners in a variety of contexts. This course will provide an in-depth introduction to the work of "Cultural Studies" and "Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies." Syllabus and Reading Schedule Thursday September 6: Introductions: Comparative American Urban Cultures Readings Stuart Hall, "Ethnicity: Identity & Difference" 1:15 pm: Oral Communication workshop with Joyce Moser Friday September 7: Public Spaces and Urban Social Geographies: Field Trip: San Francisco Mission District Mural Tour with Juana Alicia Depart Stern @ 9 am Lunch in the Mission District: Taqueria El Toro 18th & Valencia Return to Stanford 3 pm Readings Timothy W. Drescher, San Francisco Bay Area Murals Monday September 10: What is Cultural Studies Anyway? Readings Richard Johnson, "What is Cultural Studies Anyway?" Nathaniel West, Day of the Locust Panels Presentations #1 Tuesday September 11: The Postmodern City Readings Mike Davis, City of Quartz Panels Presentation #2 Wednesday September 12: Families and City Cultures Readings Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street Panels Presentation #3 Thursday September 13: Painting the Town: Diego Rivera Murals Field Trip: Tour of Diego Rivera Murals in SF with Masha Zakheim, City College, Diego Rivera Theater, San Francisco Art Institute, City Club at Stock Exchange Depart Stern @ 12 noon Return to Stanford 5 pm Friday September 14: Families and City Cultures Readings Faye Ng’s Bone Monday September 17: Urban Design and Public Policy Readings Brad Jacobson, "Strategic Defense Initiative: Public Space in the Fear-full American City" Mike Davis, "Fortress L.A"from City of Quartz, Ch 4 David Harvey, "Social Justice, Postmodernism, and the City" Panels Presentations #4 Tuesday September 18: Civic Space and the Geographical Imagination Field Trip: Portsmouth Square, Chinatown Yerba Buena Gardens, Financial District Lunch in the city Depart Stern @ 9 am Wednesday September 19: Comparative American Urban Cultures Presentations of Class Projects Friday September 21: Bibliographies due