POLI 256 - Walking Poughkeepsie: Uncovering Poughkeepsie’s Symbolic Landscape and Imagining Otherwise

1 unit(s)

This is a community engaged Intensive that will involve Vassar students and Poughkeepsie High School students highlighting sites and histories in the City of Poughkeepsie. Drawing from a range of written, visual, and oral sources, including projects like Jane’s Walks, and New York City’s Landmark Preservation Committee’s story maps , students will work together to mark Poughkeepsie in ways that encourage greater, more robust awareness of the city. Students will meet with local historians and learn how to uncover so-called “hidden histories,” as well as with community members and others who will share approaches and perspectives on places, people, and moments that are significant to Poughkeepsie both historically and in the here and now. Success in this Intensive will depend on students conducting independent/small group research, being flexible and creative, and honing in on particular areas and sites of the City. The final project will involve writing, multimedia forms, and project presentations.

Possible field trips to NYC’s African Burial Ground, Pine Street Burial Ground (Kingston). Katherine Hite.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 3-hour period.

Not offered in 2023/24.

Course Format: INT