I need to write a paper about the American Suburbs.

This is the assignment.

 

Please choose one representation of suburban life from 1945-Present. That representation can be a number of things including but not limited to: a movie, television show, newspaper coverage of a real event in a suburb, song or album, or video game. Please remember to pick something you are personally interested in because you will be thinking and writing about this topic throughout the semester.

 

Whatever you choose, it should:

1. Be largely about suburbs and suburban life

2. Be of historical significance—that is, your chosen representation addresses an important issue, idea, or event in suburban history such as race and gender relations or sprawl

 

In your proposal, you should detail what your representation is, what year it is from, and why you think it is significant and worthy of study. You do not need to do detailed research nor are you expected to know everything about your topic. Rather, at this point in the process, you should be able to explain what your topic is and why it can sustain a paper 10-15 pages in length. Your proposal should be no longer than 1 page.

 

In week 5, I will have individual meetings to discuss your topic and how you should proceed to complete the next step in the paper-writing process.

 

If you are unsure of want you want to write your paper about, you may propose more than one topic so that you and I can choose the best one together. However, please do not propose more than 3 topics.

 

 

List your suggestions in the response.

Thanks

Hey Matt. Whenever I think of anything relating to the idealistic view of suburban life, I immediately think of The Wonder Years. That show is chock full of all kinds of representations of suburban life in the 60's and early 70's. I'm sure you could get a lot of ideas from that if you are familiar with the show. If not, there are tons of episodes on the net, especially on Youtube.

The affect the Newark Riots had on the surrounding Suburbs.

 

Or how Public housing changed from Returning GI's after WWII to the Utopia it is now.

 

Or how MTV culture transformed the Suburban Youth into little Urban Commando Wannabees.

How the interstate highway system changed the landscape of America; created the suburbs (e.g., Levittown in NYC, etc.) but also caused the side effect, by-passed by the highway, on existing small towns without entry-exits off of the highways. All this happened starting 1956.

Thanks guys for the idea I have to choose for Wednesday so if anyone has any ideas let me here them

Thanks M

come on no one else has any input. Need to make a decision by tomorrow night

 

Thanks

M

That 70s show

2. Be of historical significance—that is, your chosen representation addresses an important issue, idea, or event in suburban history such as race and gender relations or sprawl

 

 

So the only things that are important are leftist causes? What about the serenity, peace and refuge suburbs brought? This prof is fishing for material for a thesis paper on why we should all live in communes, stacked on each other in high rise, densely populated buildings.

Just watch a few episodes of Married with Children. While slightly exagerated, most of it is right on the money.