ENGL 2041 - The Sixties: From the Beats to the Bongs

This course will examine the 1960s in the West as a time of social, political and cultural change. It will encompass both 'high' and 'low' cultural forms in an attempt to expose students to some of the prevailing preoccupations of the decade. Topics will be taken from some or all of the following: fiction, poetry, film, popular music, television and political writings. In addition to specific texts, social and political movements will be discussed. Students will gain an historical overview of significant cultural moments and political movements from the decade through the lens of cultural studies and historical and literary methodologies. They will gain a working understanding of these methodologies.