Rebels Without a Cause: Cultural Expressions of 20th and 21st- century Youth Subcultures (Honors Course)

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

This Honors seminar guides students through an exploration of the social impacts and cultural expressions of radical youth subcultures in the 20th and 21st centuries. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which radical youth subcultures have expressed rejection or resistance to the mainstream, thus challenging or transforming the Western normative structure.

RATIONALE:

From Dada antifascist youth art, to the 1950s teen rebellion and from there to the 1960s-1970s civil rights movement and to contemporary anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist movements, 20th and 21stcentury youth subcultures have been proven active vehicles of social change. Through study of a variety of interdisciplinary materials, from painting and music, to films, political manifestos, and literary texts, students are led to explore the many ways in which 20th- and 21stcentury youth subcultures have affected and defined fashion, music, lifestyle, forms of political expression, and social mindsets.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate awareness of the socio-political phenomena surrounding the birth of 20th- and 21st-century youth subcultures;

2. Discuss the relationship between youth subcultures and political/social rebellion;

3. Identify interrelations between various youth subcultures;

4. Assess the ways in which specific elements of 20 th-century youth subcultures inform various aspects of contemporary culture and social life;

5. Demonstrate a critical understanding of concepts treated in the course through a variety of projects and presentations

METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING:

In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college, the seminar will employ the following tools:

• Textual analysis, class discussion, and group work during class meetings;
• Active student-centered teaching approach;
• Individual student presentations;
• Extensive instructor feedback on presentations and essays;
• Individualized assistance during office hours for additional reading, presentations and essays;
• Film and Documentary screenings;
• Other relevant educational material placed on reserve in the library.