This class assesses American material and visual culture in a broad context by examining design, decorative arts, architecture, cartoons, photography, painting, sculpture, and world’s fairs. We will connect these objects and images to larger historic themes, such as industrialization, empire, race, class, and gender, to contextualize our study of the United States from the seventeenth century to today. After reading a range of scholarly perspectives, students will be asked to conduct a research project culminating in a presentation and paper. Students will also write weekly reflection papers and give one presentation (as part of a group) related to a set of course readings.