Identity and Ideology in the UMPI MA in American Studies

[slaterjack]

I just heard back from Jessica and she sent me this.  These are def the classes and descriptions,  no thesis or dissertation.

YP MA in American Studies
Courses and Descriptions

AMS 500 Discovering and Interpreting Local History
Local history places local events in the context of larger occurrences and re-creates the history
of the ordinary person. This course investigates local history sources and considers the ways in
which local records may be used to illuminate larger historical themes. 

AMS 501 Oral History
This course introduces students to Oral History as a method of preserving the past through
recording the memories of community members. Students will learn the methodology of Oral
History as well as research a topic, conduct oral interviews, transcribe their interviews, and
organize findings into a presentation.

AMS 510 Makers of America
Examines the roles that ordinary people played in the making of America, including
its economic and social development and political institutions, from the British colonial period
through the aftermath of the American Revolution. Emphasis is on the diverse perspectives and
contributions of non-elite and historically marginalized groups. 

AMS 520 Cold War America
Examines the global, political, and ideological struggle between capitalist and
communist countries, particularly between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR), through the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Emphasis is on how the
Cold War affected American life, with a focus on economics, gender roles, race, and fears,
including as manifested in American films.

AMS 530 The American South
Examines the American South from the British colonial period through the eve of the
Civil War. Themes include race, conflict, labor, expansion, economic development, regional
identity, sectionalism, and slavery’s effects on all aspects of life in the South as well as on other
American regions. Emphasis is on interactions of diverse groups, social structure, and sectional
politics.

AMS 540 Violent America
Examines incidents and patterns of violence in America from the first permanent
English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia through the late nineteenth century. Emphasis is on
violence between various groups connected to race, economic developments, the American
Revolution, slavery, and labor.

AMS 550 American Cemeteries:  Material Culture, Death, Memory, and Identity
Explores cemeteries as significant elements of American material cultures and
cultural landscapes and analyzes how they reflect and influence American societal identities,
cultural values and collective memories. Additionally, the course delves into cemeteries as
historical narratives that illustrate societal shifts regarding life and death in America and
examines what different styles of gravestone art reveal about American cultural attitudes.

AMS 560 Echoes of Valor:  Union Civil War Soldiers’ Experiences in Pension
Records  
Explores the profound experiences of Union soldiers during and after the American
Civil War, emphasizing how these experiences shaped their lives and communities. Employs
historical records, census records, vital records, newspapers, personal narratives, and pension
documents to examine the physical, psychological, and economic challenges faced by
American Civil War veterans.

AMS 570 Social Media and American Culture
This course examines the impact of social media on American culture, exploring its influence on
communication, identity, politics, and social movements. Students will analyze how platforms
shape cultural norms, amplify voices, and perpetuate inequalities. Topics include digital
communities, algorithmic biases, misinformation, and the role of influencers in contemporary
society.

AMS 580 Sex and Gender in America
This course explores the roles of gender and sex in shaping American society. It examines
intersections with race, class, identity with a focus on power, privilege, and inequality. Topics
include theoretical perspectives on sex and gender, feminist and LGBTQ+ movements, and
sociocultural influences on gender dynamics.

[Duneranger]

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

[NotJoeBiden]

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

Race, gender, and sexuality have had tremendous impact on American society. It would be a disservice to have a degree about America Studies that did not include some of the most important aspects that shaped the country.

[ss20ts]

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

You do realize that we have Amendments to our Constitution regarding race and gender, right?

[Duneranger]

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

Race, gender, and sexuality have had tremendous impact on American society. It would be a disservice to have a degree about America Studies that did not include some of the most important aspects that shaped the country.

Sure, then rename the degree because that's clearly the focus of over half of these classes

---

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

You do realize that we have Amendments to our Constitution regarding race and gender, right?

A somewhat disingenuous response, considering none of these classes have anything to do with the said amendments or the history of the Constitution. Kindly ,read the descriptions again.

American studies could include classes on sports like the history of baseball, national parks,  fashion, education and environmentalism in America but no they chose to highlight over half the classes on DEI-esque topics.
This was a conscious choice. One class sure.

That said, 550 and 560 seem interesting and relevant.

[ss20ts]

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

Race, gender, and sexuality have had tremendous impact on American society. It would be a disservice to have a degree about America Studies that did not include some of the most important aspects that shaped the country.

Sure, then rename the degree because that's clearly the focus of over half of these classes

---

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

You do realize that we have Amendments to our Constitution regarding race and gender, right?

A somewhat disingenuous response, considering none of these classes have anything to do with the said amendments or the history of the Constitution. Kindly ,read the descriptions again.

American studies could include classes on sports like the history of baseball, national parks,  fashion, education and environmentalism in America but no they chose to highlight over half the classes on DEI-esque topics.
This was a conscious choice. One class sure.

That said, 550 and 560 seem interesting and relevant.

We have Amendments because people who aren't white men have bee treated differently throughout our nation's history and this treatment continues today. DEI impacts everyone. Look at the population of Maine. The vast majority is white. Wouldn't hurt for anyone to learn more about what other's experience and their history. 

Some people actually take courses on subjects such as sex (gender) in business as students because they learn something. These courses can be eye opening. But you have to have an open mind and understand that your experience in the world is not the same as everyone else. Having an open mind seems challenging for some.

[knaves]

I think the issue is primarily a question of whether the experiences of the disadvantaged are the PRIMARY components of the American story or whether they are a part of the story.  The frustration of many (primarily expressed by conservatives though I think that is an over simplification) is the idea that the primary idea of the American experience is that of oppression rather than freedom.   These frustrations are exacerbated by condescending comments that often reduce complaints about these ideas to "you're not smart enough to understand these issues."  

While one can agree or disagree with the perspective that critical analysis has inverted the relative importance of such topics, I certainly think the class descriptions are listed as more than sufficient to prompt such a discussion and deserve more than simple dismissal.

[Jonathan Whatley]

If I wanted to study baseball or fashion in American history and culture, a course on sex and gender in American history and culture would be a natural place to do it.

[sanantone]

The fashion industry is disproportionately LGBTQ, and baseball was racially segregated. LOL. If you're really going to study environmentalism in the U.S., you'd have to cover how it's interconnected with the treatment of Native Americans and how polluting facilities are disproportionately placed near economically disadvantaged, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods. How can we ignore that the military tested chemical weapons on poor Black and White people without their knowledge?

[Duneranger]

The fashion industry is disproportionately LGBTQ, and baseball was racially segregated. LOL. If you're really going to study environmentalism in the U.S., you'd have to cover how it's interconnected with the treatment of Native Americans and how polluting facilities are disproportionately placed near economically disadvantaged, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods. How can we ignore that the military tested chemical weapons on poor Black and White people without their knowledge?

LOL, is the primary history of baseball racial segregation? NO.

Does the primary history of environmentalism in the US involve race? NO.

The US military also tested nuclear weapons with US soldiers who were PRIMARILY white.

People like you will see whatever they want in the tea leaves.

---

I think the issue is primarily a question of whether the experiences of the disadvantaged are the PRIMARY components of the American story or whether they are a part of the story.  The frustration of many (primarily expressed by conservatives though I think that is an over simplification) is the idea that the primary idea of the American experience is that of oppression rather than freedom.   These frustrations are exacerbated by condescending comments that often reduce complaints about these ideas to "you're not smart enough to understand these issues."  

While one can agree or disagree with the perspective that critical analysis has inverted the relative importance of such topics, I certainly think the class descriptions are listed as more than sufficient to prompt such a discussion and deserve more than simple dismissal.

I would mostly agree with this, and I view it from the perspective of someone who holds a graduate degree in history.

---

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

Race, gender, and sexuality have had tremendous impact on American society. It would be a disservice to have a degree about America Studies that did not include some of the most important aspects that shaped the country.

Sure, then rename the degree because that's clearly the focus of over half of these classes

---

Interesting courses, definitely good options if you want to be browbeaten with dogma regarding race, gender and sexuality...which is what the degree should be called rather than " American Studies".....lol

You do realize that we have Amendments to our Constitution regarding race and gender, right?

A somewhat disingenuous response, considering none of these classes have anything to do with the said amendments or the history of the Constitution. Kindly ,read the descriptions again.

American studies could include classes on sports like the history of baseball, national parks,  fashion, education and environmentalism in America but no they chose to highlight over half the classes on DEI-esque topics.
This was a conscious choice. One class sure.

That said, 550 and 560 seem interesting and relevant.

We have Amendments because people who aren't white men have bee treated differently throughout our nation's history and this treatment continues today. DEI impacts everyone. Look at the population of Maine. The vast majority is white. Wouldn't hurt for anyone to learn more about what other's experience and their history. 

Some people actually take courses on subjects such as sex (gender) in business as students because they learn something. These courses can be eye opening. But you have to have an open mind and understand that your experience in the world is not the same as everyone else. Having an open mind seems challenging for some.

Cool, then rename the degree Gender, Sex and Race in America, not American Studies. The reason there is a strong DEI focus is that UMPI has a limited professors in the history department and this is their "niche" or area of interest. They teach what they know. I think we can all expect a few gender or race classes within the degree, but over half the classes emphasizing it is disproportionate.