all things californian

Carey McWilliams

Why are we reading this essay?

McWilliams was the first great cultural critic of California, and his ideas not only offer a template but contribute to setting the terms of the discussion.

For this reason, I want you to read this piece looking for quotes about California and/or by or about McWilliams (this essay was written by Kevin Starr, California's greatest historian) that stimulate your own thinking about California and then apply one of those quotes to a piece of California art.

But I run ahead of myself here, for I want you to focus on reading this piece carefully before you worry too much about writing.

So, goal #1 is to search for quotes.

But anytime you read something for a class, you should also be looking for terminology and concepts from the reading that you should come to class prepare to discuss and / or apply. Here is a list of a few of the more interesting ones from this piece:

• assimilative encounter
• self-invention
• resort hotel culture
• utopianism (particularly the forms of California utopianism Starr / McWilliams explore)
• California as a tabula rasa
• noir
• apocalyptic
• ambivalence
• chiaroscuro
• racist hegemony

The article also mentions some interesting historical figures / events in the California of McWilliams's era:

• Aimee Semple McPherson
• H.L. Menken
• Sleepy Lagoon case
• Japanese Internment camps
• Ambrose Pierce
• Upton Sinclair

Finally, the article points us toward some interesting California architectural art. Here are three of the more famous of those referred to in the essay:

the Biltmore Hotel (click the photo for a link to the photographer's page)

The Coliseum (check out this link to the Daily Mirror to learn more about this picture and its context)

City Hall

Responding to California Art

Our first writing assignment has two parts.

1) locate a piece of art about California that interests you

Here are a few ideas:

• • Use google to find something interesting on the web (various searches for California art followed by a click on the google images button are a good way to start). If you go with a web image, make sure to print out a copy to show your group in class.

• Choose an image from Made in California or Reading California (if you do, just bring the book in with the image to share with your classmates)

• Pick a song that you like that is about California (if you do, remember to bring the lyrics).

• Feel free to experiment with other forms of art--pop art like ads, posters, and street murals; film and television; architecture and public space art...anything that interests you, but remember to bring an image of what you choose to share with your group.

2) When you have chosen a piece, write a 500 word reflection on what the piece of art that you have chosen tells us about California. You may find that the guiding question on the syllabus and/or the lists of things we like/love and problems/dislikes from class today may help you.

Remember to bring two copies of your work: one for me to look at and one to share with your classmates.

Fall 08 English 100 Syllabus

Welcome to Reading California: Contested Eden, my fall 08 English 100 course.

Click here to download the course syllabus: Download 100syllabus.pdf  

Click here to receive the detailed calendar for unit 1: Download 100calu1.pdf

The calendar includes a reminder about the homework assignment for Thursday.

Please take the time to carefully read the syllabus before class. Remember, I will bring lovely color copies to class, so do not worry about printing this about. But I do suggest that you worry about a quiz on the syllabus :)