The American Experiences
Overview
In this FOCUS cluster, we examine the making and remaking of the United States from a variety of perspectives--historical, political, philosophical, religious, legal and literary. What does America profess to value in its institutions, and what realities does it, in fact, institute? How are we to know the differences? Can they be addressed? In each seminar, we examine the interplay between consecrated ideas of what America is—a land of opportunity, a city on a hill, a nation of laws, a society dedicated to the principle that “all men are created equal,” and the lived experience of Americans, including those who have been dispossessed by slavery, nativism, racism and other forms of prejudice and injustice. We continue these reflections at our weekly dinners, where we pay particular attention to the aspirations and historical realities that have shaped Duke and Durham.
Courses
History 190FS- History of Abortion: Race, gender, Religion, and Law (IJ, WR)
Jenette Wood Crowley, Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education - Intellectual Community
This course examines the complex history of abortion in the United States, with a focus on how race, gender, and religion have intersected to shape policies, laws, movements, and cultural attitudes. Moving from colonial America to the present, we will explore the history of abortion, key legal and public health aspects, the anti-abortion social movement, the realities of abortion provision, and abortion in popular culture and public opinion. Key themes include the role of religious institutions, the racialized impacts of abortion laws, and the intersections of reproductive justice and gender equity. Through critical readings, lectures, and discussions, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the evolving discourse around abortion and its implications for contemporary society.
English 190FS - Mondo Weirdo: Eccentrics in American Art, Literature, and Popular Culture (WR)
Taylor Black, Assistant Professor of English
Taking its inspiration from the lurid and provocative mondo films popular during the 1960s, Mondo Weirdo surveys works by and about some of the most fabulously eccentric American artists and stylists from the 20th century. It examines how “the weird” has been represented and commodified across mediums.
From iconic figures such as Miles Davis, Zora Neale Hurston, Flannery O’Connor, and Andy Warhol to more obscure cult personalities such as Quentin Crisp, Dorothy Dean, Valerie Solanas, and A.J. Weberman, this course seeks out iconoclastic figures with extreme personalities and unforgettable works of art and almost-art. Through fiction, feature films (David Lynch, John Waters), documentaries (A Portrait of Jason, Grey Gardens), essays, memoirs, visual art, and popular music, while also considering historical context to understand the political, social, and economic conditions in which these works emerged. In doing so, students will be exposed to a whole cosmos of American artists and cult figures while also learning how to perceive and describe these eccentric geniuses in ways that are anything but average.
Through two short writing assignments (2-4 Pages) and one longer essay (7-8 pages) or creative project at the end of the term, students will expand their powers of perception and description while being encouraged to uncover the eccentric within themselves.
Political Science 167FS -Fifty Ways to Create Inequality: Social Policy, Politics, and Federalism in the United States
Candis Watts Smith, Professor of Political Science
The rights and resources people may access in the US are not determined by what they need or even by what they are ostensibly entitled to as citizens or residents, but rather by where they live. One needn’t look any further than voting rights, abortion care, or high-quality public education as examples of the peaks and valleys of (in)equality and (in)equity across the states. Variation across and within the US results from federalism—a foundational system of US governance and the underlying mechanism that creates fluctuations in inequality across the country. The overarching goal of this FOCUS course is for students to become near-experts in the intricacies of federalism, enabling them to counter misinformation, develop well-informed opinions on a range of social policies, and expand their imaginations regarding potential solutions to inequality.
SPRING SEMESTER | WRITING 120: The Disney Version (W)
Lisa Andres Cole, Lecturing Fellow of Thompson Writing Program
Walt Disney’s films have shaped how many people understand classic fairy tales. But how closely do these movies reflect the original stories they were based on? Scholars such as Jack Zipes argue that Disney adaptations have transformed traditional tales, often emphasizing distinctly American values and narratives.
In this course, students will examine how Disney films reinterpret earlier fairy tales and consider questions such as: What changes were made to the original stories? How do these changes shape themes, characters, and cultural values? And what do these films reveal about American identity and storytelling?
Through class discussion, academic readings, and writing assignments, students will analyze several Disney films—including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pocahontas, Hercules, The Princess and the Frog, and Soul. Each student will also select a Disney film to study throughout the semester.
Major assignments will guide students through research, analysis, and argument development, culminating in a class podcast series that presents each student’s film analysis in a short, accessible format inspired by Dissect.
SPRING SEMESTER | WRITING 120: Language Difference & Writing (W)
Charlotte F Asmuth, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Thompson Writing Program
What do linguists know about language, and how can that knowledge improve our writing? How do identity, culture, and context shape the ways we use language?
In this course, students will explore how language variation—such as slang, dialects, and multilingualism—functions in writing and communication. Rather than treating language differences as problems, the course examines them as valuable resources for expression and understanding across contexts.
Through readings in linguistics and writing studies, students will analyze how language works in academic and everyday settings while developing strategies for effective writing. The course also considers how emerging technologies, including generative AI, may influence language use and writing practices.
Students will complete two major projects:
• A slang analysis exploring how a word or phrase is used across communities and media
• A research project involving small-scale fieldwork such as interviews or surveys about language and writing
Through regular writing assignments, peer feedback, and research activities, students will strengthen their ability to analyze language, conduct research, and adapt their writing for different audiences and contexts.