History 1135-01, History of the Family Spring 2010 Richard Nelson
Lecture: Bus. 207, 10-11:15 Tue/Thurs
Office: Fine Arts 151: Office Hours M W 12-1, Tue 3-6 and by appointment
Telephone 651-450-3586
This syllabus is available in alternate media by request
The family is both the most familiar and basic social
organization. That makes it central to all political, religious and economic
institutions, all gender and social identifications and all national, local and
personal memories and expectations of community. In this class we will use a
series of texts, films and discussions to consider the family both historically
and globally, but with a particular emphasis upon the way family has manifested
itself in the
The central theme of this exploration will be the experience of diasporas, or scattering, through immigration, colonization, oppression and/or dreams of personal achievement. In a sense, every new family represents a small diaspora, as old family structures are broken and children move away to start their own families. We will consider the cultural, political, religious and economic forces that have shaped the roles and meanings of families, both as a way to understand the changing meaning of that institution but also how the family reflects larger social trends and dilemmas.
Texts: Coontz,
Marriage: A History; Davis, Return of
Martin Guerre; Ulrich, Midwife’s
Tale; Butterfield,
Grading: Students will be graded on: 1) two take home examinations plus an optional final. 2) 2-3 page responses to each of the readings, 3) class participation which includes regular attendance. Exams will count for 70% of grade, assignment with readings, 20% and participation 10%. Improvement is more important than grade averages in your final grade. History of the family fulfills transfer curriculum goals 5 and 7
Course Objectives: It is expected the student will:
1) be able to analyze, interpret and theoretically place the history of the family within the political, economic, religious and social contexts of the modern world, and to trace its evolution in the period between the 16th and 21st centuries.
2) be able to compare and contrast the family as a multicultural institution, an economic institution and as a source of personal identity with a changing social context from a global perspective through colonization and immigration.
3) be able to
analyze the historical transformations in the family in colonial through
contemporary
4) be able to apply historical analysis to contemporary issues of the family, household and nationality.
Reading and Test
Schedule
I Week of Jan. 11 Introduction: Household, Family, Nation
Read Coontz, Marriage, a History Part I (to page 53) by Jan. 21.
First Written
assignment on Marriage, family and identity, Due Jan. 26
II Two Historical models of the family, ethnicity, and culture
A. The Greek Diaspora and the Civic Household
B. The Jewish Idea of Diaspora and the Problem of family
Read Coontz, Part II ( to page 145) by Jan 28
II. The Strange Case of Martin Guerre : A Picture of the Early Modern Family
Complete Davis, Return of Martin Guerre by Feb 1
First Exam
Due Feb 4
IV. The New England Family, From Puritan Colony to Early
Ulrich, Midwife’s Tale complete by week by Feb. 16 + assignment with reading
V. The Native American Family and the Trials of John Tanner
Read Tanner, Narrative of the Life of John Tanner by Feb 25 + assignment with reading
Read Coontz, Chapter 9 and 10 by Week of March 9
Second exam Due Week
of March 22
VI. Southern Honor,
Read Butterfield,
(and McBride, Color of Water, as optional text)
Read Coontz, Chapter 11 by April 20
VII. The Chinese Family, The
Read Amy Tan, Kitchen God’s Wife by April 27+ assignment with reading
VIII Conclusions, complete Coontz, Week of May 4
Optional Final Exam
5/11/10 10-12