HSTA 334: American Myths, Memory, and Monuments

Course Description

History is told on the American landscape. 

Every day, Americans engage with places that are named, they visit museums and historic sites, walk by monuments and markers, and attend commemorative events.  Often, this historical landscape does not reflect the past, but instead, reflects the things that we say about the past – the myths of American history.  

Using a variety of case studies, students in this course will interrogate how historical myths developed and how these narratives are mobilized and used in contemporary American society.  Key questions include:  As a society, how do Americans collectively remember our past?  What forms do these historical memories take?  How have historical narratives been used and manipulated by those in power, and to what purpose?  How have they been contested?  How and why do our collective memories and historical narratives change and what does this change tell us about American culture and national identity?  And finally, how have historical narratives shaped your own understanding of history?

Meeting Place and Times

Online

Instructor(s)

Dr. Jennifer Hill

Tuition and Fees

If you are accepted into a qualified online program, see the appropriate MSU Online Only Tuition and Fee table.

If you are also taking a face-to-face course, please refer to the MSU Fee Schedules.

Required Books/Materials

• James W. Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
  • 2018 edition; ISBN: 1620973928
• David W. Grua, Surviving Wounded Knee: The Lakotas and the Politics of Memory
  • 2016, ISBN: 978-0-19-024903-8
• Kenneth E. Foote, Shadowed Ground: America’s Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy
  • 2003, ISBN: 0292705255
• Various articles and films provided on D2L

Computer Requirements:

• Internet access
• A device and browser that pass the system check for Brightspace LE, MSU's learning management system.

For More Information

For course information, please contact Sarah Coletta-Flynn.

How to Register

You must be accepted as a student to Montana State University to take this course.

Learn how to apply.

After your application has been accepted, you will register via MSU's online registration system, MyInfo.

Registration requires a PIN number. Learn how to find your PIN.

Once you have your PIN, learn how to register through MyInfo.