اطلاعات درس

The seminar explores the evolving social and cultural landscape of protest and resistance movements in the United States from the end of World War II to the present. Within this period and through this conceptual lens, we will not only examine 'progressive' movements such as the African-American Civil Rights Movement, second-wave feminism, LGBTQ+ activism, and climate justice advocacy, but also consider 'counter-movements' such as right-wing populist groups, anti-government militias, and social formations of conservative political protest. Using both historical and contemporary case studies, we will analyze protest tactics, cultural narratives attached to protest, and the role of media in shaping public perceptions of protest and resistance. The course places particular emphasis on investigating competing claims of marginalization and domination as well as on the way protest continues to define identities and democratic life in the United States. By critically engaging with a variety of texts and sources—including interdisciplinary scholarly research, historical primary documents, and artefacts from contemporary popular culture—the seminar invites students to understand protest and resistance not only as tools for social change but also as giving insight into America's ideological polarization.