Masculinity in America

Bachelor Degree in American Studies

AMR 440

Breyer State University

Instructor: Heather Metzger B.A., M.A

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome students! This course is designed to give you an overview of some of the critical debates going on in gender studies and history in American Studies today. In this class we will focus on the construction of gender and how that construction changes over time. From this course you can expect to receive instruction in both gender studies methodology and historiography. An emphasis will be placed on American history and address the following concepts:

1). T he difference between sex (the body) and gender.
2). 'Camp' and gender parody.
3). 'Dandyism', homosociality.
4). Masculinity and identification, identity.

TIMEFRAME: This is a six (6) hour course. You have ten weeks to finish all of the class assignments. Your semester will begin when you register for the course, or when you contact me and let me know that you have received the books and are ready to begin.

You must finish all course work within the allotted time frame. Failing to do so may result in no credit for the class. Incompletes and extensions are only appropriate under extenuating circumstances and must be agrees upon by both you and I.

TEXTBOOKS: There are two text books for this class.

Book 1: The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and Private. Bordo, Susan. New York, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 1999: ISBN # 0-374-52732 (pbk.)

Susan Bordo teaches English and Women's Studies at Penn. State . She provides an extremely readable and accessible introduction to some of the major concepts in gender studies. It's a great book for beginners. http://www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/WomenStudies/bordo.html

Book 2: He's All Man: Learning Masculinity, Gayness, and Love from American Movies. John M. Clum. New York, Palgrave. 2002: ISBN # 031224035X.

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GRADING: The mid-term is worth 30 points, and the final is worth 70. There are a total of 100 points possible. The grade break down is as follows:

90-100% = A
80-89%   = B
70-79%   = C
60-69%   = D
50-below = F

When I grade your papers and exams, I will look for the following:

1). Do you have a firm grasp of the material? Did you stay on topic?
2). Are you able to compose an essay with an intro, thesis, body and conclusion?
3). Were you able to incorporate examples and quotes from the reading?
4). Are you writing clear and do you make use of paragraphs, transition sentences, and basic coherence devices?
5). Are you able to show some original thought or analysis aside from a basic summary?

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: My name is Heather Metzger and I hold a BA in Women's Studies and Film Studies from the University of California at Riverside (UCR). I received my MA from Claremont Graduate University in Cultural Studies in 2001. While at Claremont, I studied the representation of AIDS and disease in American culture. Currently I am working on my PhD in English at UC Riverside. My academic interests include; virtual culture and media studies, the history of sexuality and emotion in America , and material culture. I have taught classes in Women's Studies and English at Claremont Graduate University and UCR. I am currently working with ESL (English as a Second Language) and beginning college students at Los Angeles City College.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact your instructor at hlm2@ix.netcom.com

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