HST 279 - Walls and Fences

Course Units: 1

This is a research course that focuses on structures that have attracted national and international attention, applause, and antagonism. Walls and fences mean very different things to different groups. We will explore the motivations for building walls in many communities and countries at various points in time, analyze whether the walls did what they were intended to do, explore the intended and unintended consequences, examine how various walls have been remembered over time, and talk about what walls say about those who (want to) build them, those who (want to) skirt them, and those who (want to) tear them down. Global challenges such as climate change and military conflict based on race, ethnicity, religion, etc. cause large numbers of people to seek safety elsewhere, while other regions and nations try to protect their people by stopping that flow of people. Students will learn how to read, interpret, and use a variety of sources on this topic, a process that will culminate in a research paper and accompanying oral presentation. CC: SOCS, JCHF, WAC-R ISP: AIS