AMST1912: Baseball and American Culture

To an extent not seen in any other sport, America's National Pastime is intertwined with the very fabric of life in America, and this is reflected in the prominent place of baseball in American cultural production such as film and literature. On the one hand, baseball provides a means through which the American dream has often been viewed and has itself been viewed as an idyllic representation of that dream and all that is good about American culture. But on the other hand, throughout history baseball has also reflected many of the struggles seen in the broader society. Whether it be racism, the realities of war, the place of women, the labor movement and unionization, or any of a number of other issues, baseball has provided a view into societal issues - sometimes leading the way and shining a spotlight on the issues and sometimes lagging behind other parts of society in dealing with the issues. Throughout this course we will look at these different sides of the connection between baseball and American culture.

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