Understanding American Culture, War History Classes Offered At UW/CC

Jan. 12, 2006 -- War in America is the focus of two courses this spring at the University of Wyoming/Casper College (UW/CC) Center. Spring semester classes begin Jan. 17.

Cheryl Wells, assistant professor in the UW Department of History, introduces the American Civil War, portrayed in popular culture in her class, “Civil War and Reconstruction.” The first portion of the class focuses on the traditional military, political and social history of the war. Students will then take a different look at the war between the states.

Four Civil War movies, each produced during a different era, will be shown to allow students to analyze how the depictions of the war and its key players changed during the years. These films will depict the times in which they were produced, Wells says.

“In many ways, the Civil War is more popular, more investigated and more alive today than it was in the late 19th century,” Wells says. “This course seeks to investigate the military, political, social and economic contours of the Civil War while simultaneously seeking to understand the nation’s continuing fascination with the war through popular culture.”

Understanding war through American culture is the focus of “American Civilization: The Cultures of War,” taught by Elizabeth Dewitt, assistant lecturer at the UW/CC Center.

Students will explore the victory culture in post-World War II America, including times of major conflict ranging from the Korean War to the present-day war in Iraq. The class also will emphasize how the Vietnam conflict affects America today.

Dewitt, a Kelly Walsh High School social studies teacher, recently traveled to Japan for the Memorial Fulbright Foundation Teacher Program, where she spoke to Japanese Department of Education and American Embassy officials at a keynote meeting in Tokyo.

To register for either class, or for more information, call the UW/CC Center at (307) 268-2713 or 1-877-264-9930.

Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006