HIS 125 - The History of Dating (1)

Much has been written about the fusion of technology and dating over the last decade, and rightly so: dating websites, dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, and other digital dating services have made a tremendous impact on the way we think about romance in the twenty-first century. What is less often discussed is the origins of these dating innovations. Dating apps in fact have deep roots going back into the 1800s, and technological innovations far older than the smartphone or App Store have shaped the way people look for love and, crucially, conflicted with what different groups and cultures have considered appropriate and respectable.<p>This course will explore the history of dating from the perspective of technology and its complicated relationship with slower-changing norms and mores. Our readings and material will focus on a variety of countries and contexts, from pre-WWI Germany to 1950s America; Cold War Europe to modern-day Tokyo; the 1700s to futuristic Black Mirror television. The goal is to emerge from the course not only with a sense of the long and wide history of dating but also with practice in considering the nuances of technological innovation and its interaction with human relationships.
(Humanities) (Intercultural Literacy Encounter)