Cotton played a critical role in the development of both modern economies and modern cultures. This course focuses on cotton's role in the capitalist United States from the Civil War period to now and the socialist USSR from its inception in 1917 to its demise in 1991. We will look at visual objects that reflect the history of cotton in both economies and will emphasize the influence of the cotton trade on modern African American and Soviet art in Central Asia. We will explore slavery, race, and racism in both capitalist and socialist culture within the context of cotton. The course includes visits to relevant sites and offers an introduction to the visual history of the cotton trade.
