91Ö±²¥

The course introduces students to key eras in the state's development as well as looking at snapshots of the past. Emphasis is placed upon the following themes: the Spanish and Mexican period leading to statehood, industrial development (especially railroad control) in the late 19th and early 20th Century; the establishment, growth, and importance of Hollywood; political and cultural change (especially the Depression era of the 1930s and New Right/counterculture movement of the sixties); and the racial and cultural history as well as filmic presentation of Los Angeles. Taking up the considerations of immigration, urban and rural demographics, business and industrial control, political challenges and the cultural melting pot of the West Coast, the course weaves together these various strands of Californian society to provide a comprehensive and varied picture of state history, culture and ideology.

• The course asks students to consider the discovery, formation, and history of America's most populous state in all its multi-faceted forms using a mixture of historical, political, social and cinematic sources;


• Students will be expected to critically evaluate and synthesise a rich variety of competing political, social, and cultural ideas that are the mainstay of Californian history;


• They will continue to hone their essay writing skills with emphasis on analytical interpretation and inter- as well as multi-disciplinary perspective to their research and work;


• In class, preparation, discussion, and interaction in large and small groups will be the foundation of the teaching and weekly debates encouraging teamwork as well as independence, collective appreciation as well as self-directed study.

By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:

• A knowledge and understanding of the historical, political and cultural issues surrounding the formation, development and continuing evolution of California as a place;


• An ability to conceptualise and theorize ideological constructs of, as well as intersections between, California history, through race, gender, political allegiance and spatiality especially;


• Some ability (in the assessed essay) to construct a sustained and cohesive written argument and to deploy scholarly methods of presentation;


• Analyzing texts; speaking to class as both an individual and group; making connections between the past and present-day concerns; improve writing; have self confidence and belief in abilities.

One 2-hour seminar per week, plus one 1-hour tutorial. Occasional film screenings.

One 2,500-word essay (40%); one unseen written exam (50%); in-class group presentation of 5-10 minutes with handout; 500-word group-written Blackboard posting (10%)

The use of dictionaries in the examination is prohibited. This rule applies to all categories of students, including all Visiting Students.

• oral feedback on group presentations and Blackboard posting
• written feedback on essays
• additional one-to-one feedback (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment)

Preliminary Reading:

Kevin Starr, California: A History (New York: Modern Library Inc, 2007),
Sucheng Chan & Spencer Olin (eds) Major Problems in California History;
David Fine Imagining Los Angles: A City in Fiction;
Mike Davis Ecology of Fear
K. STARR - Coast of Dreams: A History of Contemporary California
S. SCHWARTZ - From West to East: California and the Making of the
American Mind
M. REISNER - Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing
Water
M. WALKER - Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's
Legendary Neighborhood
B. HOSKYNS - Hotel California: The True-Life Adventures of Crosby,
Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles and their many friends