Much is said about Washington, D.C. Much of it is wrong. This course will immerse students in the history, institutions, demographics, and rituals of nation’s capital. You will learn about Washington’s transformation from a remote federal city to the world’s most powerful capital. We will analyze the accuracy of Washington’s depiction throughout history, how it is represented – and misrepresented -- in modern culture, and why it is ridiculed by politicians who yearn to work there. We will examine the glorification and vilification of Washington in literature and film and assess the truth behind popular Washington myths. We will probe Washington policy debates and rituals and survey the research tools used to separate fact from fiction. And we will discuss the demographics of a city which contains some of the nation’s wealthiest and most impoverished neighborhoods.
You will have an opportunity to study and visit monuments and museums, as well as iconic institutions as the National Portrait Gallery and Ben’s Chili Bowl. The elective contains a mix of lectures, readings, discussions, field trips and guest speakers to experience as much of Washington as possible in a single term. Readings will include scholarly writing, literature, and journalistic accounts, aimed at offering insight into the workings and role of the capital. Students will be required to use primary sources to determine the validity of Washington conceptions and misconceptions.
Regular discussion of contemporary policy and politics, as well as student internships, will provide a window to understand how Washington works.
About the Instructor: Professor Marc Sandalow is the Associate Academic Director of the University of California Washington Program (UCDC). He is the author of three books, including “Madam Speaker,” a biography of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He has been a journalist for 30 years, including 21 years at the San Francisco Chronicle and more than a decade as the paper’s Washington Bureau Chief. He is a former columnist and contributing editor for the California Journal, and is a currently a political analyst for Hearst Argyle television stations and KCBS radio in San Francisco. Professor Sandalow has been the UCDC program since 2008.