STS 257-H01 Fall 2008

Rob Friedman
331Cullimore Hall
(973) 596 5765

  
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Course Overview

This course begins with an American historical perspective on the interaction of technology and culture -- aesthetic, political, economic and material expression. You will read and discuss some of the most widely read articles from the discipline's flagship journal, Technology and Culture. Mid-semester, we look to contemporary examples of product obsolescence in order to understand its effects on both technology development and our consumption habits. We conclude the semester with a focused view on specific artifacts that help us understand the mechanics of material culture.

CALENDAR

Week & Text Monday Reading Thursday Reading
Week 1 Labor Day 9/04 Introduction
Week 2 TAH 9/08 1-43 9/11 45-103
Week 3 TAH 9/15 105-163 9/18 165-195
Week 4 TAH 9/22 197-238 9/25 239-269
Week 5 TAH 9/29 271-300 10/2 301-320
Week 6 TAH 10/06 321-343 10/09 345-387
Week 7 TAH 10/13 389-412 10/16 413-444
Week 8 MTB 10/20 1-27 10/23 29-55
Week 9 MTB 10/27 57-81 10/30 83-113
Week 10 MTB 11/03 115-149 11/06 151-185
Week 11 MTB 11/10 188-260 11/13 261-281
Week 12 AA 11/17 1-69 11/20 71-128
Week 13 AA 11/24 129-166 11/25* Catch up
Week 14 AA 12/01 167-211 12/04 213-251
Week 15

12/08
Exam Review

 *class meets Tuesday
Final Exam To be announced  

 
 
 
 

REQUIRED TEXTS
Cutcliffe and Reynolds, eds. Technology and American History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997. ISBN: 0-226-71028-9

Prown and Haltman, eds. American Artifacts: Essays in Material Culture. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2000. ISBN: 0-87013-524-4

Slade, Giles. Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-67402-572-5

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
There will be two position papers, and final exam. You will also be responsible for leading the class at least once on your own and once with other people through the assigned reading. The first step toward success is your presence in class; the second, engagement with the material and your classmates.

GRADING
Assessment formula:
Two position papers: 15% each
Two presentations: 15% each
Class participation: 10%
Final exam: 30%

Late papers will not be accepted for full credit; penalty of one half letter grade per day late. Revisions of on-time papers accepted up to one week after receiving graded work back from me; since there will be comments and corrections made with “track changes” enabled, revisions should be made on the same file.