82-185: Cultural Constructions of National Identity
Monuments, museums, world's fairs and amusement parks: What's the connection?

This seminar begins with an examination of six Parisian World's Fairs from 1855 to 1937 to see how economics and entertainment helped construct French identity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Comparing the French experience with that of other European nations and the United States, we examine how the culture of consumerism has changed the focus from nationalism to supra-national entities such as the European Union. We also examine the evolution of nationalism into transnational capitalism. Questions of separatism (Québecois, Basque and others) take a different approach to the construction of national identity. The roles of history, language and geography are called into question through their expressions in cultural phenomena such as cathedrals, memorials, museums, opera, (particularly Wagner's Ring Cycle), shopping malls and amusement parks. In a sense, the course could be considered a roller-coaster ride - both an entertaining and an instructive one - from the Mall of America to the Mall in Washington, D.C. with a detour through Euro Disney and the Millennium Dome, including side visits to Valhalla and the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in December 1999. Fasten your seat belts.

Students will be asked to conduct original research on a topic related to the cultural construction of national or supra-national identity. The results of this research will be organized and presented in a project or final paper. Numerous writing assignments and brief presentations will also be required. Knowledge of a foreign language and some familiarity with world history and basic economic principles will be helpful but are not required. Students will be required to keep themselves informed of current events by regularly reading at least one "national" newspaper or daily (The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, The Financial Times, Le Monde, El Pais, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, etc.).

Readings: Roland Barthes, Mythologies. Films: Jean Renoir, La Grande Illusion, Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will.
Opera: Wagner, Der Ring des Niebelungen (selections!). Further readings, films and other media to be announced.