This course aims to help students become better informed and more critical consumers of popular culture by situating a selection of important American works and genres within the historical context of their creation, and in the history of American culture. Students will be challenged to look for historical patterns in popular culture and to consider the particular habits of thought and action that American popular culture seems to reinforce. Prerequisites: HIST 1100 or HIST 1200 or HIST 1400 or HIST 2210.