Fisher. "The New American Studies: From Myth to Rhetorics."

The new generation of American Studies has moved from myth to rhetorics, or the politics of experience. Fisher discusses the genealogy of the myth and symbol method in the univerisities, and then rhetorics, the second element that developed alongside it. America, as Fisher sees it, has swung like a pendulum from times of great diversity to times of great unity. Regionalism was a major factor in determining which way the country leaned. The current trend (1994), as he states, is the regionalism of race and gender. At this point we have rhetorics because we have no ideology. Therefore, the study of rhetorics is the answer to the dilemma of a method for American Studies.

Schlereth. "Mirrors of the Past: Historical Photography and American History."

Schlereth takes a brief look at how and when (1839) photography was first invented and its progress as a medium of presenting history. As early as the 1880s individuals and organizations were using photography as "above-ground archeology" and an "Aid to Local History." The acceptance of photography as a historical authority, like the process of recording oral history, has been slow in coming. Certain aspects of "Documerica" such as the landscape photography of the West, has been widely conducted and reserached. He gives an in-depth discussion on the different types of photography and gives some great reference material for further study into photography as an art and as a tool for American Studies.