Section Prompt for Oct. 15: Westerns and Review

Hello!

This week we will spend the first half of section talking about Newcomb's essay "From Old Frontier to New Frontier," then spend the second half reviewing for the midterm. Here's what I'd like you to do to prep for section:

Newcomb Discussion Questions:

1. How did (TV) Westerns dramatize issues of race, nationalism, and citizenship? (Or, what is the "old frontier" Newcomb is discussing? What content is on the surface of these shows?)
2. How were these dramatizations of race/nationalism/citizenship related to social and cultural changes of the 60s? How did they represent these changes? (Or, what is the New Frontier in the Kennedy era, and how does Newcomb argue TV Westerns are connected to it?)

Review: 

• Bring your review questions with you, including any you posted to the blog. Between section Wednesday and lecture Thursday we should get to everything. 
• IMPORTANT: also bring with you any study notes you've made, and, if possible, a way to access course readings and your lecture/section notes. 
• This review will be a peer knowledge-sourcing exercise. I am not going to give you the answers; if you have a question, bring it, and one of your peers can probably answer it from their studying, while you can answer one of theirs. We will work as a group to prep for the exam. 

Additional exam resources:

Check out the folder "Josh's Study Tips" under the Resources tab of the class CTools page, and you'll find three handouts I've uploaded with tips on taking multiple choice exams, effective study tips, and other useful info heading into the midterm. 

Optional (hilarious) watching for the week: 

If you're into westerns and think you might want to write on them for the final paper, here's S05E28 "A Pink Cloud Comes From Old Cathay" of Bonanza, one of the most famous TV westerns, which illustrates the complicated and problematic nature of the genre that Newcomb discusses. 

Don't forget that I have office hours this Thursday from 130-330pm; come see me if you have exam questions!

Cheers, and happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Josh