Charles Demuth, “Turkish Bath with Self-Portrait,” 1918
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History of Sexuality in America, 1600-Present This course surveys the history of four centuries of American ideas about sex and sexuality. We will attempt to understand historical changes in conceptions of sexual desire, “normal” behavior, and sexual orientations, and we will ask why various ideas about sexual behavior developed alongside religious, political, and cultural belief systems. We will also examine the ways that sexuality has been regulated through various legal, social, and political means, and the ways it has been represented in the media. Overall, the class will challenge the notion that American history has moved from the repressive world of the Puritans to the more liberated, modern ideals of the twenty-first century. We will pay special attention to readings that draw connections between sexuality and race, class, and gender. This lecture course is designed to enhance students’ skills in historical analysis in two areas: in thoughtful and nuanced discussion, and in the development of well-researched and argued written work. Several weeks of the class reading have also been designed to allow us to talk, at length, about ways of reading original documents. |
