New Interpretations in History.

Hist 501

 

Instructor: Esperanza Brizuela-Garcia, Ph.D.

Schedule.- Wednesdays 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Room DI 274.

Contact Information: Office hours: Wednesday 10:00am- 12:00pm. Room: DI 423.

Email: brizuelagare@mail.montclair.edu

Site: http://montclair.blackboard.com

 

Objectives of the course.

The twentieth century has witnessed dramatic changes in the discipline of History. One of these is reflected in the increased interest of historians in the study of the "under-classes" as opposed to the more traditional approaches to political history and the history of the elites. This course will explore the multiple ways in which this "new social history" has been approached by historians. We will see how scholars, from different fields and inclinations, have questioned the epistemological foundations of the historical discipline as well as the relationships of power involved in the production of historical accounts. In the process of doing this, new methodologies have emerged and History, as a field of study, has re-invented itself according to new demands and expectations. Students will be expected to reflect upon the nature of these changes and their implications for the future of the discipline.

 

Readings.

-Novick, P. That Noble Dream. The "Objectivity" Question and the American Historical Profession. Cambridge University Press, 1988. Chapters 14,15 & 16.

 

-Thompson, E.P. The Making of the English Working Class. Random House, 1966.

 

-Levine, W.L. Black Culture and Black Consciousness. Afro-American Folk Thought From Slavery to Freedom. Oxford University Press, 1978.

 

-Ginzburg, C. The Cheese and the Worms. The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller. Trans. John and Anne Tedeschi. The John Hopkins University Press, 1992.

 

-Gonzalez, L. San Jose de Gracia. Mexican Village in Transition. Trans. John Upton. University of Texas Press, 1974.

 

-Spence, J.D. GodÕs Chinese Son. Norton. 1996.

 

-Bozzoli, B. Women of Phokeng. Consciousness, Life Strategy, and Migrancy in South Africa, 1900-1983. Heinemann, 1991.

 

-Chatterjee, P. The Nation and its Fragments. Colonial and Postcolonial Histories. Princeton University Press, 1993.

 

Evaluation.

The final marks will be calculated in the following way.

 

 

 

a) Participation.

Participation is an important element of this class. Students are required to come to class ready to discuss the readings assigned for each session. There will be reading weeks assigned so students can keep up with the materials. Participation involves attendance as well as active class discussion. Four students will be asked to make a presentation of the text each class. These presentations will be brief and will allow the rest of the class to start a wider discussion of the materials. More information on these presentations will be given during class. Presentations will be an important element of class participation.

 

b) Papers.

The evaluation will consist on two papers. Students need to choose two of the texts that will be read in class (with the exception of Novick's and write a historiographical analysis for each of them. For the first paper students can choose from Thompson, Levine, Ginzburg or Gonzalez. For the second paper students can choose from Spence, Bozzoli, or Chatterjee. For more information please look at the "Guidelines to a historiographical analysis" which will be distributed together with this syllabus.

 

c) The "Exemption" Rule.

Students who get a high grade in their first paper (B+ and above) and who have been actively participating in class have to option to be exempt of the second paper. This means that the grade they got in their first paper will be used as the grade for their second paper. This exemption does not include participation. The participation grade will include all the sessions of the semester. This exemption is voluntary, only students who choose to take this option will be allowed to do so. Students who decide to take this option should inform the instructor before or by April 21. The student will be asked to sign a written form in which he/she accepts to use the "exemption" rule. This form exempts the student from submitting a second paper and authorizes the instructor to use the grade from his/her first paper as the grade of the second paper. If the student does not sign this agreement by April 21; the instructor will assume that a second paper will be submitted and will calculate the final marks accordingly. Students cannot use the "exemption" rule after April 21 or after a second paper has been submitted.

 

***Contingency plan: Due to health reasons it may be necessary to end the semester early, which means it may be impossible to finish all the readings, presentations and discussions. If this is the case students will be given the option of using the exemption rule even if their marks are not above B+. Students who do not want to use this option will be given an Incomplete and will be able to finish their work over the summer. If there is a need to end the semester early students will only be expected to write about the books that were actually discussed in class. The participation marks will be calculated according to the sessions that were held.

 

 

 

 

Class rules.

1.- Please arrive to each class promptly. If you are late, please enter the room quietly. Do not leave the room during class unless you plan to stay out for the period.

2.- Turn off your mobile phones.

3.- Do not ask to discuss your grade or other matters at the beginning of class unless you feel your concerns are relevant to the entire class. In that case, please tell me if you feel a public discussion is needed. Otherwise, use the office hours or make an appointment to see me privately.

4.- You can use e-mail to schedule appointments or to ask simple questions. Do not use e-mail to discuss grades or to ask for assistance with your coursework. If you need help with your readings, make an appointment to meet with me. Please be aware that I do not read my e-mail over the weekends.

5.- If you miss class you do not need to justify your absence, unless this will affect the attendance requirement. The only absences that will be justified have to be supported by a note from the Dean of Students.

6.- Do not eat or drink during class.

7.- Do not whisper, rattle papers, or otherwise distract your fellow students during class.

 

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

 

1	January 21	Introduction.
2	January 28	Discussion of  Novick, P. That Noble Dream. pp. 469-629. The New Social History
3	February 4	Discussion of Thompson, E.P. The Making of the English Working Class.
4	February 11	Reading Week.
5	February 18	Discussion of Levine, W.L. Black Culture and Black Consciousness. Afro-American Folk Thought From Slavery to Freedom.
6	February 25	Discussion of Ginzburg, C. The Cheese and the Worms. The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller.
7	March 3	Reading Week.
8	March 10	Discussion of Gonzalez, L. San Jose de Gracia. Mexican Village in Transition.
9	March 17	Spring Break.
10	March 24	Discussion of Spence, J.D. GodÕs Chinese Son.
11	March 31	Reading Week.
12	April 7	Discussion of Bozzoli, B. Women of Phokeng. Consciousness, Life Strategy, and Migrancy in South Africa, 1900-1983.
13	April 14	Reading Week.
14	April 21	Discussion of Chatterjee, P. The Nation and its Fragments. Colonial and Postcolonial Histories.
15	April 28	Second Paper Due.

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