The development of the Southern region, with emphasis on the economy, social structure, politics, and arts. Examination of the theory, practice, and tradition of documentary field research, including the use of photography, film and video, and tape recorders. Special emphasis on documentary study of the American South. An interdisciplinary seminar that examines the South through a close study of social groups, social structures, and social forces. The seminar explores the social traits that have provided the foundation for Southern regional distinctiveness, using the methodology of the New Social History pioneered by European historians.
Course work involves reading, discussion, and preparation of a research paper.
An interdisciplinary seminar that explores the South's past and the contemporary era, focusing on the literature, music, folklore, art and architecture, religion, and other cultural forms that have been especially associated with the region. The seminar looks at the South as a geographical culture area and attempts to outline the characteristic cultural ways in the region. Course work involves reading, discussion, and preparation of a research paper. Sermons, folk tales, ballads, blues, and other oral forms in works of writers such as A.B. Longstreet, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Richard Wright, Eudora Welty, and Ernest Gaines. Interdisciplinary study of the theory, practice, and tradition of documentary field research through readings, photography, films and video tapes, audio recordings, and field notes.