The Construction of Adolescence in the U.S.

This course traces the cultural history of youth in the U.S. and the development of the modern concept of adolescence at the turn of the twentieth century. It uses a multidisciplinary approach to explore aspects of adolescence in contemporary society. As a class, we will critically investigate how modern and contemporary notions of adolescence have been shaped by societal forces and institutions. The modern concept of adolescence is introduced through: a review of images and discourses of youth in the popular culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century; the work of G. Stanley Hall and the new psychology of adolescence as a distinct “stage of life”; the creation of the juvenile justice system and the social construction of a legal concept of adolescence; the proliferation of delinquency theories in the social sciences; and the emergence of a cultural concept of adolescence in cultural studies. The course addresses the formation of “youth cultures” during the last half of the 20th century. Connections from these historical contexts will be made to 21st century social, economic, and public policy issues related to youth as well as portrayals of youth in popular culture.

Fall, Spring