Texts Other Than Books

 

In the spirit of the Humanities (among which History is one discipline), which examine the human condition through texts, let's enrich the seminar through occasional discussion of texts other than books. Each member of the seminar is expected to report to the list occasionally on some text other than books about life in her own part of the plains. This helps to build community in the list, as we find out more about one another. It helps us get into the right frame of mind for encountering the texts of life on the plains, reading everything that is here. And it helps us all become greater repositories of arcane knowledge of the plains with which we can astonish and confound our friends and family.

Here are some examples of texts other than books you might write about (look for your own examples close to home).

 

·        The World's Largest Pheasant, atop the Plains Liquor Store, in Huron, South Dakota

·        A recipe from your grandmother's card file

·        A poetry reading by a local or regional poet

·        A wedding dance

·        A collection of worn-out cowboy boots on fenceposts

·        A country cemetery

·        A Class B basketball tournament

·        Any darned thing you can read and reflect upon to learn about life on the plains

 

Got the idea now? Let's hear from you.

 

HIST 730