Monuments, Museums, & Movies

This course will provide an overview of public history, defined as the presentation of history to a general public audience. Students will learn the theory, methods, and practice of public history in its various dimensions, including museums, monuments, historic sites, and films; they will explore the controversies that emerge in public history settings, including the battle over the Enola Gay, the Holocaust Museum, and commemorations of September 11th; and they will engage in a public history project in the Schenectady area.