Monthly Archives: October 2010

History 592, Material Culture…

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

History 592, Material Culture, was the only class that I was able to choose this semester.  I chose it because it seemed as though it would be a great introduction to the Public History (despite the fact a class I will be taking next semester is call, Introduction to Public History).  I have not been disappointed by this course.  The professor, Dr. Gabrielle Lanier, is an architectural historian who has documented many sites.  In fact, all the examples and photos she has used in our class (and she typically has over 100 per lecture) have been from her collection.  Dr. Lanier is a favorite of most the grad students in our department.  Incidentally, I will have her for two of my three courses next semester.

The course is a combination of grad students and undergrads.  We all meet from 9:30 – 10:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the three grad students meet for a fourth hour on Tuesday afternoons.  We complete all the same assignments as the undergrads, just on a graduate level.  In addition, the book list I provided earlier for the course is for the graduate section.  There are three different books the undergrads use.  I did purchase one of the three because it is a classic of Material Culture and that is James Deetz’s In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life.  The other books for the course include: Waste & Want, Refinement of America, New Urban Landscape, Material Christianity, and Chesapeake Family & Their Slaves.

The course is fairly straight forward.  We get a broad overview of the various aspects of Material Culture after which we can take classes which focus more on individual matters.  The subjects covered by the course include: methods of material studies, archaeology of American life, material culture of death (particularly headstones), architectural landscape, artifacts vs. documentary evidence, domestic environments, museum exhibits, cultural landscape, clothing, urban landscapes, industrial landscapes, foodways, garbage, and technology.  A full course!  With every topic, Dr. Lanier has carefully selected journal articles which describe the study of the particular field and issues associated with it.  Her lectures add to our understanding of the topics.  This class will prepare me for two of the classes I will be taking next semester, but you will have to wait to find out what those are!!  Registration begins tomorrow!

In addition to daily readings, the course consists of several papers.  1. An object analysis in which and object is physically describes but also put into historical context.  2. An evolution of a 18th or 19th century probate inventory.  This assignment was very enjoyable.  I was assigned the probate inventory of Joshua Pusey of Chester County, Pennsylvania.  My task was to pull as much information as I could about his life, property, family, and occupation from the inventory. 3. A review and critique f a history museum exhibit.  This paper is due this coming Thursday and I have yet to start it.  Still trying to decide what I would like to write about for this one!  4. The final paper is over a topic of our choosing related to material culture.  I have decided to do an in depth study of fall-out shelters from the Cold War Era.  In addition to the papers we also had a out of class midterm and will have an out of class final.

The afore mention papers are required of both undergrads and graduate students.  For our fourth hour meeting, we have to write and review/reaction paper of what we read for that week.  This week I read a book that I chose from a preselected list and I will report on it during our meeting on Tuesday.  We have read a wide variety of things, but the readings generally correspond with the subjects from the undergrad portion of the class, but just a more in critical or complete view.

The course requires a lot of work, but I have really enjoyed the readings and feel like I am prepared for my classes in the Spring.

As I mentioned earlier, registration for Spring classes begins tomorrow and I met with my advisor on Friday.  I will be taking three classes, two of which are required.  I will write briefly about those three classes later in the week because I am really excited about all of them, but one in particular!  Until then…

-Eric

Buying a second camera…

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Most of you know that I already own a very capable DSLR, but last week, at the Kevin Harvick Fan Club Gathering, I realized that the large Canon T1i could be a disadvantage.  The task became, what camera to get?  I wanted a camera that has high end features and takes photos like my DSLR, but can fit in my pocket.  Those familiar with photography know that the terms “point-and-shoot” and “awesome image” do not go together.  That is until now.

The Amazing Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Last year, Canon released the S90 which professional photographers hailed as a fantastic point and shoot.  A few months ago, Canon released the S90s predecessor, the S95.  The feature list is impressive – f/2 lens, manual mode, RAW format, 3,8x zoom, Digic 4 processor, HDR system, and many more.  The S95 is Canon’s top compact point and shoot camera and I knew I had to have it!

I decided on Friday that the S95 was the camera I wanted, but the closest one was in Gainesville, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C.  I went to Best Buy in Harrisonburg just to see what they had.  What I found was Canon’s SX210 IS.  I was impressed with the camera in the store and decided to make the purchase.  Wait, I wanted a S95, but bought a lower model??  I brought the camera home and put it aside to finish a paper due this week.  Once the battery had charged, I put the camera through its paces and realized I had made a huge mistake.  The camera’s auto focus was extremely slow and loud, the body was pretty bulky, and I still wanted the S95!

The Impressive Canon Powershot S95

I made a few phone calls and remembered a store in Harrisonburg called Glen’s Everything Store.  Dr. Lanier, a fellow photography enthusiast and professor of my HIST 592 course, told me about this store.  Now, this store is mostly a seasonal store and is over decorated for Halloween at the moment, but they are a retailer of Canon cameras.  I called them and they HAD THE S90!!  I returned the SX210 to Best Buy and spent the extra $100 for the S95.

I do not regret making either purchase.  The SX210 IS made me realize I would settle for no less than the S95.  The S95 itself is a great camera and I see myself using it for many years to come.  Its first test may come this weekend should we, some grad students and myself, go to Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington D.C.  I have, however, used the camera around the apartment and outside.  I am impressed with its quality and the manual features.  It also does not hurt that it is a good looking camera as well!!

The Crystal Clear 3 inch display on the S95

So, moral of the story is stick with your instincts, they are never wrong!!  Oh, and buy the Canon S95!!

I promise I will describe my HIST 592, Material Culture, course as soon as I get a chance!  Until then…

-Eric

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days…

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Late last week we learned of the death of Barbra Billingsley (December 22, 1915 – October 16, 2010), the quintessential 1950s TV mom.  Then yesterday, Tom Bosley (October 1, 1927 – October 19, 2010) died, who many recognize as the 1950s TV dad.  There is no doubt that Leave it to Beaver and Happy Days are two of the most popular television series ever made, and despite being produces twenty years apart, they have many aspects in common, which I would like to explore.

Leave it to Beaver debuted in 1957 and was about the stereotypical upper middle class family.  Dad went to work, children attended school, and mom stayed home to cook and clean while wearing her best clothes and pearls.  While this was not a representation of the typical 1950s family, the show was tremendously popular and ran until 1963.  The popularity of the show was due in part to the romanticism of upper-middle class life.  The fact that American families could watch a wholesome show which ignored the complicated social issues of the time led to its popularity.  Leave it to Beaver was, to over simplify, a way for families to escape the realities of the late 1950s.

In the twenty years between Happy Days and Leave it to Beaver, America went through a great deal of social change. In the early 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement and television brought brutal racial violence to the living rooms of Americans.  After the passage of several important pieces of Civil Rights legislation in the mid 1960s, America’s involvement in Vietnam escalated as Marines were sent to Da Nang.  Soon, Americans were viewing images of war on their television screens, and it was during this time the evening news was extended from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to ensure full coverage of the war.

While changes were taking place in America, television had also taken a dramatic turn.  Cultural issues were taken head on in the new sit-coms of the 1970s. Show such as Good Times (1974-79), The Jeffersons (1975-85), All in the Family (1971-79), and M*A*S*H (1972-83) directly addressed the issues of racism, war and women’s liberation.  While these series were popular among viewers, the introduction of Happy Days (1974-84) took a different approach and, once again, romanticized the upper-middle class of the 1950s.  The Cunningham family was comparable to the Cleavers in many aspects.  The Cunninghams were obviously upper-middle class with mom staying home to look after the cooking and cleaning, dad working 9-5, and the children (one did mysteriously disappear!) attending school while only having the “normal” issues of high school to deal with.  Happy Days was a nostalgic view of the “good old days.”

Television was not alone in glorifying the 1950s in the 1970s.  Movies such as American Graffiti (1973) and Grease (1978) romanticized the “simpler” 1950s.  There was clearly a fascination with 1950s in the 1970s on television and at the box office.  To over simplify, Americans were fed up with the 1970s and needed a way to escape reality.  That is, after all, what television and movies are all about.  The viewer could escape reality, if only for a short amount of time.

As we remember the work and achievements of Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley, it is important to understand the work they did.  Both actors entertained audiences in a manner to allow the viewer to escape, the often harsh, reality.  Despite the fact Leave it to Beaver was produced twenty years prior to Happy Days, the two shows have clear connection.  The family unit of the 1950s was glorified and the issues facing society were ignored, allowing the audience to escape reality for a half hour once a week.  Today, we still have a fascination with the 1950s as these shows rerun.  Many have said actors achieve immortality when they have produced successful movies and/or television.  And I think it is safe to say Billingsley and Bosley will not soon be forgotten.

-Eric

To Kevin Harvick Inc.

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On Sunday I drove to Kernersville, North Carolina for the Kevin Harvick Fan Club.  The event took place at Kevin Harvick Inc. and I really enjoyed meeting the drivers, touring the shop, and meeting fellow Kevin Harvick fans.  It was a great afternoon and I was able to meet Max Papis, Ron Hornaday, Ken Schrader, and, of course, Kevin Harvick.  The only person I was unable to meet was DeLana Harvick, but only about 100 fans were allowed to get her autograph.  I gladly waited in line to receive each autograph as they were giving up a Sunday afternoon to meet all Harvick’s fans.

Overview of KHI

While at KHI, I noticed they were selling pieces of sheetmetal from various cars.  My favorite car that Harvick drives, besides the #29, is the #33 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet.  They did not have any diecasts of the car available, but they were selling a driver side door panel from one of the cars.  I had to buy it!  The proceeds from the sale went to the Kevin Harvick Foundation and that justified the purchase in my mind.  I had this signed by all the afore mentioned drivers, as well as many members of the crew, including Harvick’s crew cheif, Butch Hylton.

KHI Race Shop

Besides meeting the drivers, there were many cars on display and fans could tour the race shop and fabrication shop.  These are located in two separate buildings, but serve important functions.  There were countless contests, music, food, and just a great atmosphere among the fans.  After all, we did all have something in common and most conversations were in regard to Harvick or KHI.

KHI Fabrication Shop

This was the 10th and final year for the Fan Club Gathering at KHI.  Next year they will hold events at various race tracks around the country in order to reach more fans, but there is a certain excitement about holding the event at KHI.  With that being said, I am glad I was able to attend this, the final Fan Club Gathering.  I believe it is going to be a hassle holding events on race weekends, but we wait and see.

Max Papis

Ron Hornaday

Ken Schrader

The Man of the Hour – Kevin Harvick

My “little” Souvenir – Complete with Signatures

I have included several photos in this post from the weekend and I hope you enjoy them.  This weekend I plan to describe History 592 – Material Culture (my favorite class) in a post.  Until then…

-Eric

History 671

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Finally, I have some time to dow what I had planned all along.  Share information on the three courses I am taking this semester.  If you plan to go to grad school for history, you will likely take a variation of these courses, so this will be a good guide!

History 671: Graduate Seminar in Historical Research Methods is taught by Dr. David Owusu-Ansah and has been for the last 18 years.  He has told us that this is is last semester teaching it because it is someone else’s turn, but no one wants it!  The reason most of the professors do not want to teach the course is due do its difficulty.  The course is primarily the theory and philosophy of history.  Unlike undergraduate courses, lecture is not a feature of graduate courses.  We read a book or assigned articles and discuss it as a class.

All first year grad students are required to take this course in the fall semester.  There are three texts for the course:

-The Idea of History – R.G. Collingwood

-The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism – Max Weber

-The New Cultural History – Lynn Hunt

However, the primary text is The Idea of History.  Collingwood wrote in the 1930s and discusses many issues surrounding the discipline including historical truth and objectivity.  The book is incredibly difficult to read and was the first book we discussed in class.  It is the basis of the class and everything we read is compared to Collingwood.  In addition to Collingwood, we have read works by Max Weber, Karl Marx, Gertrude Himmelfarb, and Richard Ashcraft.

In addition to seminar discussions, we have several papers due throughout the semester.  The first three papers were book reviews.  The first two were to review a book of our choice with the third reviewing five separate sources with a theme.  In a few weeks I will write a theoretical paper comparing and contrasting Weber and Marx.  The final paper in the class, the Methods paper, will discuss the writing of history and the issues faced by historians.  All papers for this class are due by Thanksgiving and our final two weeks will be used to wrap up the class.  Our final meeting will be held at a local restaurant and will be informal.

I have been assured by the second year Master’s students that HIST 671 is the most difficult class in the program.  We have struggled through this class as a group and will continue to for the next seven weeks!

Tomorrow I am heading to North Carolina for the Kevin Harvick Fan Club Gathering.  This is their tenth year and my seventh as a member.  I will post pictures from the event tomorrow or Monday.

Next week I will introduce History 592, which is a combination of undergrad and grad students.  Until then…

-Eric

Art Feeds

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Sorry I have not updated for two weeks, but Grad school is notorious for keeping students busy!!  I hope to describe my HIST 671 class in a post this weekend, but I do have something I would like to share.

There is a not-for-profit organization in Joplin that is strongly supported by a group of students, one of which I have known since elementary school.  The group, Art Feeds, supports children’s creativity by encouraging the to paint, draw, take pictures, sing and anything else they choose.  The people involved are working on their own time and helping as many children as they can.  They have incredible goals and I want to support them in anyway I can.  I encourage everyone to friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, but the most important thing you can do to help is vote for them in the Pepsi Refresh Project competition (the banner at the top of my site will take you directly to the voting page for Art Feeds).  You can also vote by texting 101784 to the number: 73774.  You can vote daily and if Art Feeds is one of the top two vote receivers, they receive $250,000, which they will use to rent a permanent building, purchase much needed supplies, and purchase a transport vehicle.  In addition to voting, you support them by donating supplies, volunteering your time, sending a contribution.  Visit their website to learn more.

Art Feeds is a great local group that has tremendous potential and I encourage everyone to help however you can.

-Eric