FYS 1035 MYTHS THAT MADE AMERICA

This course explores the connections between stories we tell about who we are as a nation, what unites us and makes us American. Foundational myths of America shape our sense of right and wrong ways of being and living. Instead of examining myths of antiquity, in this course students will delve deep into the myths that inform the American experience. While myths bind some people, they exclude others. Students will explore the differences between myth and history, how and why myths exist, and what purposes they serve. The course focuses on the role of Christianity, Native people, immigrants, and Africans in the making of the U.S. Students will examine the ways in which myths naturalize power structures and hierarchies in society. The course also surveys strategies of those who have been excluded or limited in their rights to engage and challenge power structures.