Listening to the 1930s

The 1930s in the U.S. saw both economic crisis and the golden age of Hollywood; both left-wing political movements and deportation of immigrants; both politically-engaged artistic and literary movements and a historic reconception of government’s role. We’ll “listen” to the 1930s through existing oral history sources (Studs Terkel’s Hard Times, PBS’s The Great Depression, Vermont Folklife Center’s Mad River Valley), and the class will create its own oral history podcast using interviews with local residents who remember that decade. Other assignments include short research papers, response essays, an oral presentation, and an in-class performance of a 1930s play. 3 hrs. sem.