First Year Opportunity: Meeting the Moment: Culture and Context for Contemporary America

1 unit

Our moment in history seems to churn with anxiety about pressing issues at the global and local levels. How do we map a way forward when at times the sheer magnitude of events overwhelms our ability to see clearly? How can we use past events to help us better understand present ones? American Culture Studies invites you to a series of interdisciplinary discussions about how history and culture inform the American experience of the present. In “Meeting the Moment,” first year students will learn how cultural studies provide insights into how we might negotiate current complexities. Students will establish relationships with numerous WashU faculty members, explore a wide variety of AMCS disciplinary approaches and methods, engage in lively discussions. and explore potential future research interests and coursework possibilities. This is a one-credit, Pass/Fail class that meets once a week. Students will be assigned short weekly readings and prepare questions for conversation with WashU faculty.