Computing in the Cold War

Course summary: This course examines computing in the cold war, from the most confrontational stages of US-USSR relations in the late 1940s through the populist movements of the post-Cold War era. This course examines major topics in the history of computing, including the use of large scale computers for industrial, military, and government purposes, the relationship between computers and structures of inequity, discrimination, and marginalization, and the use of computing networks in the relationship between popular organizations and political authorities. This class explores historical materials, topics, and methods in dialogue with events, issues, and debates in the present. The structure, assignments and outcomes of this course are designed to fulfill Pathways requirements for Critical Thinking in the Humanities [2] and Applied Discourse (1a).

Assignments:

Exams, due October 13 and November 18, 2 @ 15%

Collaborative projects, due October 10, November 9, and November 30, #1 & #2 @ 25%, #3 @ 20%

That We May Think: In this exhibit, students enrolled in HIST 2624, Computing in the Cold War, examined four illustrations of computing in American society by the prominent illustrator Boris Artzybasheff. Posters are on display in Newman Library Athenaeum Gallery (first floor, northeast corner) during the fall 2022 semester.

View posters as pdf link