NYC Trip Blog Assignment

Pre-Trip Assignment:

1. Take a look at the blog considerations below before proceeding to task 2.
2. Predict what you might learn about the past and present from this visit and develop a few questions you’d like to explore during your visit. Do some preliminary exploration of the historical theme/era and the location online.  Record, in writing,  your predictions/questions. (2-3 sentences). Preview the various sites that we will visit here.  Also on this link is important information about the day.  You should include these questions/predictions at the top of your blog post.  

What to consider for your blog entry:

1. What was / is the intended narrative of the sites you visited? Or, what historical memory do they convey?
2. How might the intended narrative of the places visited influence the memory of the historical event, person, movement, etc. being depicted or memorialized?
3. In what ways do the various sites represent American identity, intentionally or not, and what do they about it? Consider class, culture, economics, ethnicity, gender, geography, history, politics, race, religion, and values.
4. On the topic of values, which ones were present at your site and in what ways?

***Note please do not attempt to answer all of these questions in your blog.  Also, you should not attempt to cover every site that we visit.  I do want to see connections between the sites made but don’t feel the need to cover every question and every detail of every site.  I am more interested in the depth of your thoughts than your ability to cover everything.

As you address the above questions use our discussions from the year about memory, perception, ideals, and identity to help you formulate your thoughts. Also, be sure to cite any sources that you use beyond the site itself.  You are free to choose how you organize your essay, as you will be graded on how well you reflect on the questions and how well you support your assertions with examples.

Also, devote some of your essay to addressing the ways in which  your pre-trip questions were answered or your pre-trip predictions accurate?

Plan to include a photo or two taken on the trip.

Over the course of your entry, raise two addional questions/curiosities provoked or left unanswered by the visit?

Here is a link to the assignment RUBRIC.

500 words.

Second Blog Assignment

The guidelines for this assignment are as follows:

• In total, your post should be approximately 250-400 words.
• Include a photograph of a work of art that you’d like to highlight
• Briefly (3-4 sentences) describe the site that you visited.
• In addition to the background info above, your entry should consider the following questions .  Note that you are not expected to answer all of them:
  • What was / is the intended narrative of  the “Pictures, Words and Music” exhibit? Or, what historical memory does it convey?
  • On the topic of values, which ones were present in the works you observed and in what ways?
  • Over the course of your entry, raise two questions sparked by something encountered at the Wadsworth.
• Also, make direct connections to the works that you viewed at the museum, the Civil Rights Movement, and Larry Neal’s essay.

Be sure to cite any sources that you use beyond the site itself.  You are free to choose how you organize your post, as you will be graded on how well you reflect on the questions and how well you support your assertions with examples.  Note that the only summary in your entry should be in those first 3-4 sentences–otherwise, it should be analysis.

Here is a link to the assignment RUBRIC.

Boston Tea Party Museum

British Tea Party Museum

By: David Paluch
Thursday, 14,2017

This past summer I was fortunate enough to visit one of many America’s great historical sites, the “Boston Tea Party Ships & Museums.” The historical event happened in Boston, Massachusetts along the Boston Harbor. This historical site exists to commemorate the brave colonists who dumped 342 chests of British tea into the water as a rebellious act towards Britain. For over 200 years, the” Boston Tea Party” museum has educated millions of about the event on December 16,1773, which ignited a fire on the fight for American independence.

After visiting the “ Boston Tea Party Ships& Museums,” I felt the main purpose was to educate and re live a key moment in Americas fight for independence. In my opinion, the intended narrative of the museum is honoring those American colonists who not only participated in the dumping of the tea, but who fought for separation from Britain. However, I do feel the intended narrative does slightly miss portray the fight for a free country as the site leaves out the struggles Americans went through in order to achieve independence. The museum has many displays from the historical event. The displays of different journal’s and artifacts allow you to foresee the culture, politics, and architecture in the 1700’s. The “Boston Tea Party” is a great representation of America’s true identity. The historical site shows how American’s are not willing to back down from anything despite them being the underdogs in the movement. American’s were angry and aware that Britain was using their tax money to re pay their war debts. Politics at the time revolved around British representatives therefore American colonists had to take stand and revolt against the mother country. The American value I felt that was present is unity. A main theme throughout the museum was the coming together of Americans to fight against the mother country and achieve complete independence. Another value within the historical memory was freedom. The colonists felt like lower class citizens trapped in scope of British authority and laws. The rebellious act of the colonists on that day displays one of many efforts for American freedom. I had two questions after I visited the site. First, who orchestrated the revolt against Britain? Second, what was the after math of the dumping of British tea?

To summarize, I felt my site represented American unity as the events following the tea party were ignited because of this act of courageousness. Moreover, this historic event sends a message of American pride and strength in numbers. The “Boston Tea Party” museum commemorates the movements from the Americans’ to push for total independence.

Cite Used: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-boston-tea-party

Picutre of the Boston Tea Party Ship:

Nathan Hale House

Lauren Smida:

The Nathan Hale Homestead is a historical site intended to educate travelers about the American Revolution, and the influence and effect it had on the Hale family. The site is located in Coventry CT, and was built in 1776 by Nathan’s father, Richard Hale. The 37 acres of land contains a school, a barn, gardens for flowers and food, as well as several open fields.  The family started off with just enough money to start building, and eventually converted the useless dirt into a home for the history books.  The Hale’s influence during the American Revolution and determination to become independent sets this family apart from the rest during this time in our history.

The Nathan Hale Homestead’s intended narrative has to do with Nathan Hale’s death.  He died on his first spy mission, and was tricked into thinking John Andre was a friend, when in fact, he was an enemy.  John had been a British spy and killed Nathan after learning about his mission.  This manipulation and devastation paints a picture for travelers’ years later who come and visit the homestead to learn about how Nathan’s death further fueled the American Revolution.  The emotions had built up by the family and others supporting the war alongside the Hale’s. Years and years later, because of the of Nathan bravery and devastation, the tours and artifacts in the homestead portrays his home, family, and story in a positive light and as heroes for America.

The Nathan Hale Homestead represents many American identities, independence and freedom being the most distinctive.  The Hale family wanted independence from Great Britain.  As a result, their house was full of different forms of rebellion to ensure they have more freedom then intended by the British.  For example, the they grew their own tea in their gardens as a way to rebel taxed goods.  In order to gain independence and freedom, the Hale family put themselves in vulnerable positions.  Nathan’s bravery is another important American identity.  Without bravery, there would be no freedom or independence.  Lastly, they believed in educating all their children, including women.  Although unusual in this time, gender would not stop knowledge.  Along with several American identities, The Hale family also had many values.  Trading goods was extremely important.  In order to obtain these goods, Richard Hale made sure to build his house on the main trading road, thus having constant access to the travelers.  In addition to trading, status and showing off money was important.  The Hale family used their money and structure of their house as a way to rebel. However, the ways they showed off their money were all in practical ways. For example, rugs on the carpets to keep their feet warm, and several chairs in each room are some ways they showed off their wealth.  Secret passage ways and meeting rooms for clandestine information all link back to their ultimate goal of freedom and independence.

After visiting the Nathan Hale Homestead, I developed some questions. My first question was what role Nathan’s siblings played in the fight for independence. The homestead mostly talked about Richard and Nathan Hale, but did not discuss the other siblings’ roles.  My second question was what kind of discussions took place in the secret meetings. There was no record on site, but clearly those meeting held great importance.

 

 

First Blog Assignment

For your first significant assignment / blog post, I would like you to share your summer “field trip” with your classmates, and consider your experience in connection with historical memory, American ideals, and American identity. The guidelines for this assignment are as follows:

• In total, your post should be approximately 350-400 words.
• Include a photograph of you at the site you visited and others if desired.
• Briefly (3-4 sentences) describe the site that you visited.
• In addition to the background info above, your entry should consider the following questions (use 8-12 sentences to answer them):

• What was / is the intended narrative of the place you visited? Or, what historical memory does it convey?
• How might the intended narrative of the place you visited influence the memory of the historical event, person, movement, etc. being depicted?
• In what ways does your site represent American identity, intentionally or not, and what does it have to say about it? Consider class, culture, economics, ethnicity, gender, geography, history, politics, race, religion, and values.
• On the topic of values, which ones were present at your site and in what ways?
• Over the course of your entry, raise two questions sparked by something encountered at your site.

As you address the above questions use our class discussions on memory, ideals, and identity to help you formulate your thoughts. Also, be sure to cite any sources that you use beyond the site itself.  You are free to choose how you organize your entry, as you will be graded on how well you reflect on the questions and how well you support your assertions with examples.  Note that the only summary in your entry should be in those first 3-4 sentences.

For examples, check out any of these three blog entries from my summer 2017 travels: Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, New England Air Museum, NYC Vietnam Memorial, or Zucotti Park.

Here is a link to the assignment RUBRIC.