The 1960s and ‘70s
May Term 2008
Mark Rubinfeld
Foster 308
Office phone:
832-2430; Home phone: 364-1228
E-mail: mrubinfeld@westminstercollege.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Course
Description:
Focusing
on the news events, social movements, technological innovations, fashions,
arts, films, and music of the 1960s and ‘70s, this course examines what really
went on in the 1960s and ‘70s in terms of social change and how much of that
social change, two generations later, still resonates.
Required
Articles:
Farber, David. “The Torch Had Fallen.”
Friedan, Betty. “The Feminine Mystique.”
Gilmore, Mikal. “Beatles
Then, Beatles Now.”
Gilmore, Mikal. “The
Death of the Most Dangerous Man.”
Gilmore, Mikal and Mick Jagger. “The Rolling Stones: Journey Into
Fear.”
Harrington, Michael. “The Other America.”
Johnson, Lyndon. “To Fulfill These Rights.”
Moy, Timothy. “Culture, Technology, and the Cult of the
1970s.”
Schulman, Bruce J. “
Schulman Bruce J. “E. Pluribus Plures.”
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. “Black
Power.”
Unger, Irwin and Debi Unger. “The Times Were a Changin’.”
Walker,
Course
Objectives:
Utilizing a variety
of learning tools including readings, discussions, lectures, and DVD’s, this
class will enable students to:
·
To
appreciate the cultural, historical, political, and social implications of the
1960s and ‘70s.
·
To learn
about the values (and value contradictions) that the 1960s and ‘70s embraced,
embodied, and encompassed.
·
To
appreciate the race, class, gender, and sexual dynamics that fueled the era’s
major social movements.
·
To
improve critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills.
Assignments and Grading:
Final grades will be
based on a ten-to-twelve page (double spaced) journal that, in an on-going
fashion, critically reflects on the class readings, discussions, lectures, and
videos in relation to the issues outlined in the Course Objectives. Active
participation in classroom discussions will serve as a positive factor in
borderline grading situations.
Class Participation and
Attendance:
Classroom
discussions are important; they help to clarify various issues that arise from
the readings and add diversity to the learning experience. I expect that all
students will participate in classroom discussions and exercises. This is
especially critical in a May Term course where the classes are long (three
hours) and the term is short (eight meetings). As such, in addition to active
participation, students are expected to attend all eight classes and are
required to make it to seven of these classes to get full credit for the
course. Any student who misses two classes will not be able to get a grade
higher than a B- for the class; any student who misses more than two classes
will not pass the class.
Student-Student and
Student-Faculty Relationship:
All students must be
respectful of other students. This means no talking while other students are
talking or trying to listen. It also means showing up to class on time so as
not to disrupt the class with late arrivals. Once class begins,
no chatting, no reading outside materials, and no sleeping in class. If you
must eat, make sure it is a “quiet” food. Also, turn off your cell phones. In
other words, act appropriately for a college class—if your actions create a
distraction, you will be asked to leave. In accordance with college policies,
any acts of cheating or plagiarism will be penalized to the severest extent. My
office hours are listed at the beginning of this syllabus. At any time, feel
free to meet with me to discuss any matters relevant to this course. It is
especially important to see me early in the semester if you are having
difficulties. Do not wait till the end of the semester when there is little, if
anything, I can do to help. Finally, feel free to meet with me if you would
like to learn more about sociology, including pursuing it as a major or minor,
or incorporating its application into papers and assignments from your other
classes.
|
Week |
Topic |
Assignments |
|
1 |
Introduction to the Course – and – Introduction to the 1960s – and – The 1960s: The Civil Rights Movement, The Kennedy
Assassination, The War on Poverty, The Vietnam War, The New Left, The Student
Movement, The Youth Movement, The Counterculture (Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’
Roll), Black Power and the Rise of the Black Panthers, The Women’s Movement,
The Gay Rights Movement, Kent State and the “End of an Era.” |
Tuesday May 6 No assignments Thursday May 8 “The Times Were a Changing,” Irwin Unger and
Debi Unger (and) “The Other (and) “To Fulfill These Rights,” Lyndon
Johnson |
|
2 |
The 1960s (Continued): The Civil Rights Movement, The
Kennedy Assassination, The War on Poverty, The Vietnam War, The New Left, The
Student Movement, The Youth Movement, The Counterculture (Sex, Drugs, and
Rock ‘n’ Roll), Black Power and the Rise of the Black Panthers, The Women’s
Movement, The Gay Rights Movement, Kent State and the “End of an Era.” |
Tuesday May 13 “Black Power,” Student Non-Violent Coordinating
Committee (and) “The Civil Rights Movement: What
Good Was It?” Alice Walker (and) “The Feminine Mystique,” Betty
Friedan Thursday May 15 “Beatles Then, Beatles Now,” Mikal Gilmore (and) “Rolling Stones: Journey into Fear,” Mikal Gilmore and Mick Jagger (and) “The Death of the Most Dangerous
Man,” Mikal Gilmore |
|
3 |
Introduction to the 1970s – and – The 1970s: Appreciating the Earth, The Nixon Presidency,
Backlash to the Counterculture, The Splintering and Institutionalization of
the Women’s Movement, Watergate, The Economic Downturn, Ford and Carter,
America after Vietnam, The Rise of the New Right, The New Environmentalism,
The First Techno-Nerds, Waiting for Reagan, What Remains and Lessons Learned |
Tuesday May 20 “The Torch Had Fallen,” David Farber (and) “E. Pluribus Plures,”
Bruce J. Schulman Thursday May 22 “ |
|
4 |
The 1970s (Continued): Appreciating the Earth, The Nixon Presidency,
Backlash to the Counterculture, The Splintering and Institutionalization of
the Women’s Movement, Watergate, The Economic Downturn, Ford and Carter,
America after Vietnam, The Rise of the New Right, The New Environmentalism,
The First Techno-Nerds, Waiting for Reagan, What Remains and Lessons Learned |
Due: Tuesday May 27 “Culture, Technology, and the Cult of Tech in the 1970s,”
Timothy Moy Thursday May 29 Lessons Learned: Students Choice ( Thursday May 29 ***Journal Due*** |