AMST 333

House and Home in America

Roger Williams University

M-TH 3:30 - 4:50

GHH 108

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.

Office: GHH 215 Phone:  ext. 3230

Hours:  M, T, Th, F 9:00-10:30

  or by Appointment

mswanson@rwu.edu

The Week's Work

• I’ll do the traditional “show and tell” introducing you to the philosophy and content of the course.  I’ll start the process of familiarizing myself with your names, and familiarizing those of you who have not had a class with me before to my classroom style.
  

• I’ll pass out the only bits of paper I intend to pass out this semester: The course overview and this syllabus for the first week.  Hereafter, you’ll be able to keep up with what’s going on by checking the class website.  If you wish a paper version of the syllabus, there’ll always be one available for downloading.  Do familiarize yourself with the web version.  It will always be more complete and provide links to interesting and useful information.
  

• I’ll introduce you to Bridges–-for those of you who don’t know the system already.  Through Bridges, you’ll be turning in most of your work for this class, and I may use it for additional exercises for you as well.
  

For Thursday, January 26

We're going to start the course with a look at the environment of the American "Dream House"--the Suburb.  Perhaps the greatest comedy which looks at the move from City to Suburb is "Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House"  It's a bit too long to pack into one class session, but wonder of wonders, it is available in its entirety on YouTube.  Carve out 99 minutes between today and Monday and give it a look.  We may take a few minutes to discuss it on Monday.  We certainly will discuss it later in the semester.  The picture in the top left corner contains a link to a review and analysis of the film.  I think you'll  like it.