LS 613 - The American Ethos

(3.00 cr.)

Ethos refers to the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or people as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. Questions about the nature of the American "character" in this broader sense often permeate the national dialogue. No matter what the topic of debate, everyone seems to have a firm idea of what being an American means. Yet invariably individual definitions of the American identity differ widely. This course probes a broad spectrum of material, from belletristic literature and academic studies to icons of popular culture and time-honored symbols of the United States, to come to a better understanding of those enduring, if sometimes contested, American values.