CITL Summer Institute To Explore 1960s Politics and Pop Culture
On July 16, Boston University College of General Studies will host a day of interdisciplinary learning exploring the politics, protests, progressivists and publications of a decade of radical social change—the 1960s.
The event is hosted by the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning and is the fourth Annual Summer Institute hosted by CITL. Each year, the institute highlights interdisciplinary and experiential learning—two hallmarks of the CGS teaching model. CITL Summer Institute: The 1960s will treat attendees to four interactive talks, breakfast and lunch, and a reception with the rock music of the 1960s.
Megan Sullivan, CGS associate dean for faculty research and development and director of CITL, said the theme for this year’s event emerged from the unique interests and expertise of CGS faculty. Thomas Whalen, associate professor of social sciences, will bring his study of presidential politics to the topic “Bobby, the Gipper, and Tricky Dick: The 1968 Presidential Election and Transformation of American Politics.” Lynn O’Brien Hallstein, associate professor of rhetoric, will speak on “Male Bashers, Mother Haters, and Bra Burners: The Myths and Truths of the Women’s Movement.” Lecturer Charles Henebry studies comic books and other graphic narratives and will be speaking on “Sick Humor and Upright Morals: Squeaky Clean to Counter-Cultural Comics.” Senior lecturer Cheryl Boots, whose study of civil rights era songs was recently highlighted by BU Research, will discuss “Attack Dogs and Firehoses: Local News Coverage and Protest Music.”
Sullivan says the annual institute allows CGS to practice what it preaches: “We teach students that in order to examine real world issues such as politics and civil rights, they have to use the ways they have learned to think in all the disciplines.” Studying an era like the 1960s involves looking at culture broadly—digging not just into history but also looking at pop culture, Sullivan says: “The institutes provide us an opportunity to show others how this focus on interdisciplinary thinking works.”
Most of the institutes have featured music, and this year is no exception. “We’ll cap our day with a reception and two musicians who will sing music of the sixties all while educating us about Boston’s contributions to the national music scene,” Sullivan says. BU alumnus John Broderick (ENG’70, ENG’77) and Nick Racheotes, board members of the Brighton-Allston Historical Society, will play music and show the Boston venues of the 1960s vibrant rock scene. Sullivan says, “My guess is that before the end of this final reception we’ll all be singing along!”
Register for the CITL Summer Institute to join CGS for this event and contact citl@bu.edu with questions.