I regularly teach courses on Canadian History, the global history of sport and tourism, the relationship between history and entertainment (especially Disney), and the comparative history of national identity and popular culture in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
History 1763: Sport in World History
This course explores the global impact of sport from c. 1850 to the present. It focuses upon the global spread of sports such as track and field, soccer, cricket, hockey, and baseball and the manner in which such sports were resisted or appropriated by communities throughout the world. Course content examines the political, social, and cultural significance of sport rather than the intricate details of individual athletes or teams, but there are plenty of opportunities for students to learn new things about their favourite sports, athletes, and competitions.
History 2913: The Historical Roots of Contemporary Canada
This course provides students with a brief narrative framework of Canadian history but focuses primarily on exploring the historical dimensions of many of the most pressing issues facing Canada today. It does so by exploring a series of thematic questions along the following lines: What was Confederation and why should we care? How has colonialism shaped Canada’s development? How has anti-Black racism structured Canadian society? When, how, and why did Canada develop a welfare state? Why are Canadians so frequently obsessed with the United States? When and how did Canada become a consumer society? And how have battles over gender equality reshaped Canada’s political and social landscape? Overall, the course aims to provide students with basic contextual information so that they can better understand why Canada is the way that it is and – ideally – how they can make it better.
History 3603: Disney and World History
Focusing primarily upon Disney’s theme parks and films, HIST 3603 explores issues of representation, selectivity, and appropriation, and a wide range of topics including colonialism, gender, race, class, urban utopias, educational initiatives, and Orientalism. Our studies include It’s a Small World, Pocahontas, Mulan, Aladdin, The Lion King, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Cruise, Muppets, Star Wars, and Marvel. Whether students are Disney fans or are deeply suspicious of the “House of Mouse,” the course provide them with a deeper understanding of one of the world’s most powerful entertainment companies and – more generally – of the complex, controversial, and contested relationship between history and entertainment.
History 3703: Symbols of Canada: Culture, Conflict, & Commodification
Hockey. The beaver. The canoe. Poutine. This discussion-based course examines some of Canada’s most recognizable and influential symbols. The course proceeds thematically and focuses on specific symbols to explore themes such as national identity, the appropriation of Indigenous culture, political conflict, and commodification. Questions addressed in the course include: Where do symbols come from? How have their meanings changed over time? How does their popularity prioritize some interests over others? How have such symbols been appropriated, resisted, and reclaimed? And, perhaps most importantly, how are Canadians shaped by this symbolic landscape?
History 3863: Tourism in World History
This course explores the global impact of tourism by focusing on a number of key questions: How, when, and why did tourism emerge? What motivates tourists to travel? Why do local communities embrace tourism? And how are the benefits and costs of this industry distributed? Our case studies include: Beaches, Zoos, Theme Parks, Museums, Ecotourism, Shopping, Gambling, and Sex Tourism. And our approach is broadly comparative as we aim to understand how and why tourism has emerged as a major social, cultural, and economic force in different parts of the world and what this means for both tourists and host communities.
History 4826: Popular Culture and Postcolonial Legacies in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
This seminar course examines the tensions at play in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in the post-World War II era as these settler societies attempted to navigate the awkward cultural tensions that arose in light of the demise of the British Empire. Through a comparative approach the course examines the ways in which expressions of national identity were manufactured and contested as competing interests sought to redefine membership in these communities that were slowly coming to terms with their histories of colonialism. Our case-study approach includes classes on sport, music, television, food, tourism, film, and mountain climbing.