American Studies 334
Urban America
Roger Williams University
GHH 108
M, Th  3:30 - 4:50
Spring, 2011
Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D
Office: GHH 215
Hours: T, Th 9:00-10:30
M, W 1:00-2:00
Phone:   (401) 254-3230
E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu
Index
09-04-1969 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America" with Eva Barnes, a stockyards worker.
09-04-1969 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America" with Benny Bearskin, a Native American boilerman.
09-04-1969 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America" with George Drossos, a teacher at a Greek school.
09-04-1969 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America" with Eva Barnes, a stockyards worker.
09-04-1969 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America" with Benny Bearskin, a Native American boilerman.
Read (and listen to)
Eva Barnes, pp. 57-72
George Drosos, pp. 93 - 97
1968 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America " with teacher Judy Hough.
1968 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America " with teacher Judy Hough.
1968 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America " with west side girl Lily Lowell, a high school dropout and nanny.
1968 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America " with ex-gang leader Jimmy White, a high school dropout.
1968 Summary: Discussing "Division Street: America " with ex-gang leader Jimmy White, a high school dropout
For Monday, March 28More Time with Studs Terkel
Seearch the Page for the appropriate sound files
As was the case for last Thursday’s assignment, links to the sound files are on the class website, both to the invidual files and to the page at Studs Terkel’s website, for those who find it more convenient.  My crystal ball is on the blink.  I’m not sure how you’re reacting to Studs Terkel yet–how long the readings are taking, or how long the discussions will take.  Consequently, today and Thursday I’m going to have everyone work on those parts of the book for which the interview files are available.  If you developed a favorite method last class, then just go ahead and continue that method.  But I do want you to both read and listen.  I’d prefer you to listen with your entire attention, rather than multi-task, but I’ll leave that to your discretion.
What I want us to do is to begin to assess and “interpret” these individuals as city dwellers.  They represent different ages, races, levels of income, levels of education, life experiences–all sorts of differents.  Each has had to make accommodations with urban life in one way or other.  Some I think we would have to say have been more successful “urbanites” than others.  Others have been successful in some dimension and unsuccessful in others.  I’d like to have us talk about this.  You might prepare for this by putting some notes in your individual journals.  I’d like that.  If I get too talky, just tell me to shut up.  I want to hear more you and less me.
Whatever time we have beyond our Terkel chats, I want to devote to ongoing reports on how your city projects are coming, or to time for group meetings, or time for a bit of each.  This kind of multitasking I like.  Don’t forget to keep prowling around your cities just because we’re doing Studs work in class.

Seearch the Page for the appropriate sound files
For Thursday, March 31Yet More Time with Studs Terkel
Read (and listen to)
Benny Bearskin, 103-112
Judy Hough, 271-277
Jimmy White, 361-368
Lilly Lowell, 368 - 375
We have an interesting and diverse cast of characters for this class period.  Benny Bearskin is a Native American: one of many who make Chicago their home.  Judy Hough is a schoolteacher (I expect a number of you are aiming for careers in this field, and it will be interesting to consider her role in an inner city environment).  Jimmy and Lilly are teenagers–something that some of you still are, and that others of you recently were.  I have a feeling that most of your life experiences are quite different–we’ll see how you feel about the comparison between theirs and yours
Looking ahead. 

I’ve been dividing up the rest of the cast of characters from Division Street among you all.  Further class readings will consist only of the prologue and Epilogue.  I’ll explain what you’ll all be doing for and with the class later

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Equal Opportunity for American League Fans.  Here's the Southside home of the Chicago White Sox, U. S. Cellular Field.  This used to be the site of Comiskey Park.  I bet you can guess which field I like best for its environmnet, Wrigley Field or U.S. CellularField.