HIS 3113 American Assassins
This seminar examines political murder and murderers in the United States from the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln to the domestic terrorism of the Unabomber. Sociological, psychoanalytical, and psychiatric perspectives on the motivations and personality "types" of American political killers, as well as their own moral and political justifications, regrets, or denials of their actions, will be considered. A central focus of this course will be on understanding law enforcement, judicial, and legislative responses to political killing. Perspectives on the roles of government agencies and corporate power in political murder and the growth of a popular "conspiracy industry" will also be considered. Manifestations of domestic political homicide in modern American fiction, visual art, and music will be included.
LA