Spring 2022
COLWRIT 195 001 - LEC 001
Special Topics
The American West: Myth, Wilderness, and Sacred Space
Patricia Steenland
Class #:32303
Units: 3
Instruction Mode:
In-Person Instruction
Offered through
College Writing Programs
Current Enrollment
Total Open Seats:
9
Enrolled: 11
Waitlisted: 0
Capacity: 20
Waitlist Max: 5
No Reserved Seats
Hours & Workload
2 to 8 hours of outside work hours per week, and 1 to 4 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week.
Course Catalog Description
This course covers various writing-related topics. Topics will change from semester to semester. See department website for current information.
Class Description
This course will explore central concepts about the American West. What defines the American West in our cultural imagination? To answer this question, our journey will take us to the Alabama Hills in California's Eastern Sierra and the nearby town of Lone Pine, a place that has been used for over 100 years by the film industry as a set for more than 400 movies and commercials. It is now in danger of overuse through its recent popularity as a "bucket list" spot for Instagrammers, influencers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. We will look at how conventional concepts of the West surface in the ways the Alabama Hills have been and continue to be used. But we will also explore the ancestral history of the actual place itself, home for thousands of years to indigenous peoples who still dwell there and consider themselves its stewards, and ask questions related to social and environmental justice. Students will be introduced to primary source research and relevant archives, working with the Bancroft Library, local film historians, and tribal elders and leaders who will partner with our class. We will explore our journey together through a series of written reflections over the course of the semester, two short essays, and a final project.
Class Notes
Course is open to concurrent enrollment students.
Rules & Requirements
Repeat Rules
Reserved Seats
Current Enrollment
No Reserved Seats
Textbooks & Materials
See class syllabus or https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/textbooks for the most current information.
Guide to Open, Free, & Affordable Course Materials
Associated Sections
None