Consuming and the American Dream?

This course looks at American consumer practices in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from a variety of disciplines.

Class Participation—Students are expected to contribute to class discussions at least eleven times during the semester.  Grades will be based on whether a student participated and the substance of his/her comments.

Classroom Discussion Leadership—Each student along with a partner will lead class discussion of two reading assignments.  Students can lecture, do role-playing, have students analyze primary documents, or stage a debate.  At least one day must be reserved for a general discussion of the texts.

Reflection Blog—On a weekly basis, students will reflect on our class blog about the reading assignments and class discussion for the previous week.  All reflections will be due on the following Monday morning by 8:00AM to receive full credit.  Grades will be based on whether the student has demonstrated that he/she has read the assignment completely; the depth of analysis or insight; organization and clarity; and grammar and usage.  The inclusion of links, images, or sounds is also acceptable.

Shopping Blog Project—Every two weeks, students will post commodities that they have found to be personally interesting to the class’s shopping blog.  Posts need to tell the reader where they can obtain the object; how much it costs; any important information from the retailer; an explanation as to why he/she has chosen to post this particular item; and why others might be interested in it.  All shopping posts will be due Thursday mornings by 8:00AM on the days in which we will review these blog posts in class (see class schedule for particular dates). Grades will be based on the creativity of post; the inclusion of links and images; organization and clarity; and grammar and usage. Shopping posts will be graded at the end of the semester, allowing students to revise their posts after our class discussion.

Final Essay—Students will write a 7-to-10-page essay on the relationship between consumerism and American identity during the twentieth century, which is due during finals week on Thursday, April 29 from 8:30-11:00AM. The essay must incorporate at least five reading assignments and our fieldwork.

Grading:

The instructor will give an unsatisfactory mid-semester report for anyone with a grade of D or below on work completed at that time. Students must complete ALL assignments in order to pass this course.  Below is the grade breakdown:

• • Class Participation—30%
  • Classroom Discussion Leadership—10%
  • Reflection Blog—10%
  • Shopping Blog—20%
  • Final Essay—30%

Grading Rationale:

Academic performance is rated according to the following system:

A            4.00 quality points—Excellent

A-            3.70 quality points

B+            3.30 quality points

B            3.00 quality points—Commendable

B-            2.70 quality points

C+            2.30 quality points

C            2.00 quality points—Acceptable

C-            1.70 quality points

D+             1.30 quality points

D            1.00 quality points—Marginal

F            0.00 quality points—Failure

Honor Code:

The instructor believes that the Honor Code is an essential, positive component of the Mary Washington experience.  You should know that if you cheat or plagiarize in this class, you willl be taken to the Honor Council.  So, do not do it.  On the other hand, I also believe that having friends or family read and comment on your writing can be extremely helpful and falls within the bounds of the Honor Code (assuming the writing itself remains yours).  If you have questions about these issues, then you should talk to me as soon as possible.

Accommodations:

If a student receives services through the Office of Disability Services and requires accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible to discuss his/her approved accommodation needs.  Bring the accommodation letter with you to the appointment.  The instructor will hold any information the student shares in the strictest confidence unless the student gives the instructor permission to do otherwise.  If a student needs accommodations (note taking assistance or extended time for tests), please consult with the Office of Disability Services (x1266) about the appropriate documentation of a disability.

Reading List:

Juliet B. Schor, The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don’t Need

Juliet B. Schor, Born to Buy: The Consumerized Child and the New Consumer Culture

Susan Strasser, Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash

Elizabeth Chin, Purchasing Power: Black Kids and American Consumer Culture

Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

Arlene Dávila, Latinos Inc.: The Marketing and Making of a People

Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not)Getting by in America

Thomas Frank, The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture, and the Rise of Hip Consumerism

Duane Elgin, “Voluntary Simplicity and the New Global Challenge,” The Consumer Society Reader, 397-413 (Handout).

Class Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction

• January 12: Introduction
• January 14: Blogging with Jim Groom

Week 2: Today’s Consumer Practices

• January 19 & 21: Read The Overspent American, 1-110

Week 3: Downshifting

• January 26: Read The Overspent American, 111-174
• January 28:Critique Blog Posts

Week 4: The Making of Markets

• February 2 & 4: Read Latinos Inc.

Week 5: History of Trash

• February 9: Read Waste and Want, 21-110
• February 11: Visit Downtown Fredericksburg

Week 6: And More Trash

• February 16 & 18: Read Waste and Want, 111-294

Week 7: Making Ends Meet

• February 23: Read Nickel and Dimed
• February 25: Critique Blog Posts

Week 8: Spring Break

Week 9: Fast Food

• March 9: Read Fast Food Nation
• March 11: Visit Spotsylvania Mall

Week 10: Youth Culture and Cool

• March 16 & 18: Read The Conquest of Cool, 1-183

Week 11: Cool Continued

• March 23: Read The Conquest of Cool, 184-236
• March 25: Critique Blog Posts

Week 12: Marketing to Children

• March 30 & April 1: Read Born to Buy, 9-176

Week 13: Decommercializing Childhood

• April 6: Read Born to Buy, 177-212
• April 8: Visit Walmart

Week 14: Another Look at Children

• April 13 & 15: Read Purchasing Power

Week 15: Consumerism in the Future

• April 20: Read: Duane Elgin, “Voluntary Simplicity and the New Global Challenge,” The Consumer Society Reader, 397-413 (Handout).
• April 22: Critique Blog Posts

Week 16: Finals Week

• All final essays are due on Thursday, April 29 between 8:30-11:00AM