Why American Studies?

Having Maggie Matson as a roommate will convince anyone to become an American Studies junkie. I would be sitting on our room reading some not-so-interesting article for some class I'd soon forget and Maggie would suddenly pipe-up: "Okay, listen to THIS!" and she'd read me an excerpt from her American studies readings. "Why ARE we obsessed with the IPOD?" and so would begin an hour-long discussion on America's new isolation-by-earbud phenomenon.

I knew I had to be in the class before I graduated from Olaf. I just find the topic so stimulating and discusses topics that are important for any young American. Questioning the day-to-day things that consume the American Lifestyle helps to put things into perspective and analyze my own life on a much deeper level.

Five years ago I traveled to live with our past exchange student, Sandy in Nantes, France. Hearing and seeing America from the perspective of an outsider our eye-opening experience. A lot are stereotypes, but some were true, and even more were shameful. There's a lot to love about America, but there's a lot to question as well.

One thing that I've thought a lot about recently in the cultural differences depending on your geographic location. A girl from Manhattan vs. the girl from Minnesota vs. the girl from California are three very distinct and different representations of the "American Girl." All three have completely different experiences and the values regarding money, environment, politics, and family are so dependent on which part of the country you're from. Yet we're all "Americans" held together under the same umbrella by the rest of the world. I'd feel just as foriegn in the deep south as I would in China. And yet there are some key things that tie us together--there must be.

These are just a few of the ideas that drove me to participate in this class and I'm excited about the 1000s of questions we will delve into this semester.