GEO 3060 - Baseball and Culture

3 cr

This course considers the historical geography of baseball, from its English roots to its development into an international game. Through readings, discussion, and primary research, students will consider topics including: the "Cooperstown myth"- the idea that baseball originated as a rural game during an era of industrialization; the game's urban origins and growth of its popularity during and after the Civil War; the inclusion and exclusion of various groups as a result of race, ethnicity, gender, and "American" values; the evolution of baseball landscapes; the game's symbolic meanings in the context of national identity and global cultures; and the global diffusion of baseball.
Fall, odd years