Tentative Schedule:

September 8 Introduction: General review of class: subject, format, method of evaluation, and objectives. Seminar Participants (background, interests, etc.). Selection of seminar topics. Possible discussion of Harris, "Problematizing Popular Culture."

September 15 Interdisciplinarity: Approaches and Theory: Consideration of various approaches and theories regarding interdisciplinarity and popular culture.

- Harris, Tim. "Problematizing Popular Culture." In Popular Culture in England, c 1500-1850, pp. 1-27, 216-23. [on reserve]

- Hunt. Lynn. "The Virtues of Disciplinarity." Eighteenth-Century Studies 28 (1994): 1-7. [on reserve]

- Lowenthal, Leo and Marjorie Fiske. "The Debate Over Art and Popular Culture: English Eighteenth Century as a Case Study." In Common Frontiers of the Social Sciences, ed. Mirra Komarovsky.Chicago: Free Press of Glencoe, 1957. [on reserve]

- McKeon, Michael. "The Origins of Interdisciplinary Studies." Eighteenth-Century Studies 28 (1994): 17-28. [on reserve]

- Rogers, Pat. Literature and Popular Culture in Eighteenth-Century England. [on reserve]

September 22 Continuation of Approaches and Theory: consideration of topics remaining from Sept. 15.

WebCT Instruction - English Computer Lab (1434 Henry, basement) Hands-on instruction on the WebCT software, edsigned to facilitate learning in an WWW-environment.

September 29 South Sea Bubble - 1

- 1720, its historicization (Mackay, Carswell)

- gender and credit (Ingrassia, Sherman)

- "deindividuation"--i.e., the crowd

- high/low fortunes/myths, rhythms

October 6 South Sea Bubble - 2

- Bowles' collage-like prints (i.e., the "Medley" pair)

- Hogarth's emblematic print

- Heywood's Memoirs of a Certain Island ... , [available at MSV on microfilm, "History of Women," reel 40, no. 279]

- Swift's "The Bubble"

October 13 THANKSGIVING (no class)

October 20 South Sea Bubble - 3

- Chetwood's "closet"-farces

- farce and the Bubble

- Bubble broadsides

- Bubble songs

October 27 Melksham Riot - 1

- clothier protests (de L. Mann)

- popular riots (Thompson, Rudé)

- newspaper coverage (McNeil)

November 3 Melksham Riot - 2

- alehouses and licensing (Burke)

- court history (Beattie)

- newspaper history (Cranfield, Wiles)

November 10 Melksham Riot - 3

continuation of topics from Oct. 27 and Nov. 3

November 17 Québec, 1759 - 1

- historicization (Parkman, Casgrain, Stacey)

- "Death of Wolfe" (West), popular prints of

- Grey's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard"

November 24 Québec, 1759 - 2

- coverage in the Gentleman's Magazine and the London Magazine

- "A Dialogue between Wolfe and Montcalm in the Elysian Fields"

- Schama on Wolfe, Parkman, etc.

December 1 Québec, 1759 - 3

- continuation of topics from Nov. 17 and 24

Class Objectives:

To learn more about eighteenth-century English popular culture (history and literature), the theory surrounding popular culture and interdisciplinary study, and the WebCT software.