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Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Office:  CAS 110
Hours:         T, Th,  9:30 - 11:00
W, 2:00 - 3:00,  F, 1:00-2:00
Phone:  254 3230
E-mail:  amst335@msn.com
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American Studies 335
New England
Roger Williams University
CAS 228
Tuesday and Friday, 2:00 - 3:20
Fall Semester, 2006
The Week's Work
Click for the New York Times Review of On Golden Pond
We don’t have much time together this week.  Starting a class on a Friday always seems a bit odd to me, but then I don’t make up the calendar around here.  Welcome back to those who have had me before, and welcome for the first time to the rest you.  I’ll read through the class roll at least twice and start to learn all your names.  I’ll pass out the course introduction and the first weekly syllabus, and say a few words about the class in general terms, answering what questions I can.
I’ll also begin to show  the film

On Golden Pond. 


Officially, its running time is 109 minutes, so we should be able to get a good portion of it in this day, and have ample time to finish it up next Tuesday . 

New England hasn’t had as strong an image in American film, for some reason, as regions like the South and West have, but this one does catch at least some of the imagery and sense of what constitutes “New England Character” through the stellar performances of Henry Fonda as Norman Thayer and Kathryn Hepburn as his wife Ethel
As you watch the film, keep one eye on the environment in which the action of the film takes place.  The geography of New England plays an important role in what we’re going to be doing in this course.
I’ll also explain how I’m planning to use the Internet, and give you your assignments for the week following.