LAPI 930 - Age of Consumer Culture 1945-1972

The course explores the way in which consumer culture redefined America in the post-war period and ultimately transformed its literary and artistic culture. We explore the reconfiguration of private and public spaces, focusing in particular on the rise of the suburb, television and malls, and the ways in which these redefined the role of public and private, ultimately reshaping art, politics and audiences. The course looks at poetry, fiction, film and the visual arts. The first part will look at the initial artistic reaction to the consumer culture, which often relied on anti-materialist critiques. The second part will look at the gradual incorporation of commercial artifacts into artistic work. And finally we will focus on the way in which brand names, movies and TV shows have become a central referent in the work of many artists.

Prerequisites & Notes
Prerequisite: LACR 102

Credits: 3 cr, 3hrs