HNUH268J

Hard work has long been central to American identity, and the Puritan work ethic that forged a nation lingers in today's grind culture. Recently, though, workers have favored lying down over leaning in, prioritizing self-care over hustle. In this course, we'll explore the history of this tension between labor and (perceived) laziness. From Rip Van Winkle's slumber to Cheech and Chong's stoner antics, laziness has a long American genealogy informed by body politics. Indeed, the concept of "laziness" is loaded with racist, classist, sexist, and ableist notions, dictating who is seen as "lazy" and who enjoys "leisure." By examining the American impulse to both work hard and hardly work, students will learn to critically analyze how certain cultural narratives structure our everyday existence, and how we can resist them.