ANSC-2305 Sociology of Supposedly Fun Entertnmnt
(SELF & SOCIETY) Why do we spend so much time and effort trying to entertain ourselves, and why do so many of these attempts fail? In the 1990s-2000s, postmodern fiction author David Foster Wallace published a series of essays on Americans' efforts to entertain themselves through rituals like television, state fairs, talk radio, luxury cruises, and more. Challenging, provocative, and funny, Wallace's essays inspire rich sociological questions about how entertainment choices impact our thoughts, identities, and relationships. Students will read and discuss selections from Wallace and other social observers, and the course culminates in a writing project that emphasizes voice and creativity. Formerly SOC-130.