AMST 430 

                                                                  MICHAEL R. H. SWANSON Ph. D..

Urban America

OFFICE: Feinstein College 111

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY

Hours: M, T, Th, F 9:00-10:00

CH  122

Or By Appointment

M, W, F, 12:00-1:00

PHONE: (254)-3230

Fall, 2001

E-mail: mswanson@rwu.edu

                                                                     

 

Week of November 26, 2001


For Monday, November 26th, 2001


Read:

            In Teaford,      Chapter 2: “Righting The Urban Wrongs,“  pages 30-43.

Chapter 3: Promises Thwarted: The Twenties pages 44 - 56

( The Failure Of Moral Reform, The Failure Of Political Reform )

            In Lopate,      The Tropics In New York, The Harlem Dancer. Claude McKay 459-460 The Finale At The Follies, Edmund Wilson. 473-476

The Police , Roosevelt And Reform. Lincoln Steffens. 518-537.

Sense Of Humor, Damon Runyon. 604-613

 

I’ve modified slightly the assignment as dictated in class on Monday. As we’ve seen, many Americans greeted the turn of the 20th century with a degree of optimism, especially as far as the future of the city was concerned. Reformers of all stripes attempted to cure urban ills with a variety of Panaceas some political, some social. Following the end of the First World War, the United States turned its back on reform in the period which came to be known as Roaring Twenties. The poetry and prose in the selections from Lopate represent the failure of reformism. Note, however, that certain literary figures applaud this failure.


For Wednesday, November 28th, 2001


Read:

            in Teaford,      Chapter 3. Promises Thwarted: the Twenties pages 56-73.

( the Imperfect Mosaic and Automobiles And The Promise Of Suburbia)

            in Lopate,       The Poetry Of Charles Reznikoff, 620-625

When The Negro Was In Vogue, Langston Hughes. 632 - 639

The Cost Of Living, Bernard Malamud. 694-702.

 

The idea of a mosaic makes a very good metaphor for a city. The mosaic creates an image composed of many small fragments arranged in a harmonious whole. Each piece has its own integrity, and makes a contribution to the entire composition. Ideally, a city is created the same way. But what happens when the various pieces of the mosaic are in disarray, and what causes this disarray? Today’s readings investigate this.


For Friday, November 30th, 2001


Read:

 

            in Teaford,      Chapter 4. An Interlude In Urban Development 1930-1945. 74-96

            in Lopate,       Fiorello Laguardia , Robert Moses. 792-801.

 

The period between 1930 and 1945 introduced new stresses upon American society in both its rural and urban settings. This class period will devote itself to exploring some of the responses to this stress, chiefly in the form of greater consideration to issues of Urban Planning and government intervention. We may also take a few minutes to look at one of the ways Urban Americans diverted themselves from those conditions of stress.