Games and American Culture

This research-intensive course examines the forms and materialities of popular games in the U.S. from the 19th century to the present, with special attention to games as ''scriptive things'' that provide insight into the activities and beliefs of Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. We will examine a variety of games, with attention to historical contexts, circumstances of production, and other cultural developments, to understand their shifting moral and social meanings.