From nweiser@osf1.gmu.edu Thu Sep 11 13:55:47 1997
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 16:26:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Natalie Weiser <nweiser@osf1.gmu.edu>
To: conference@h-net.msu.edu
Subject: "Envisioning the Future" Panel Presentation

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in this
fascinating conference.  
Please find my information for the conference program below:

Natalie Weiser
Ph.D. Student in Cultural Studies at George Mason University
TA in History as I have my MA in History

The paper is entitled: "The Wall and New Technology"

Please find a brief biography on the webpage I created for a class in the 
Spring term of 1997; http://mason.gmu.edu/~nweiser

Description of my own project:

	For my dissertation I am working on the Vietnam War era.  To be
precise, I am concentrating on the effect of the Vietnam War on
American Society.  The issues of memory and identity are at the center of 
this project as they determine how American culture has been and is
dealing with this experience.  In order to accomplish a detailed look I
will focus ont he experience of Black Americans and women, particulalry
female war correspondents, that is.  I chose the latter due to my previous 
work in that dield on George Ann Geyer, Marguerite Higgins and othres.
The initial has come mor to the foreground because of the fascinating
connection between memory and identity in the African-American experience 
and my continuous studies in that area.

	I will accomplish a detailed analysis of the impact of the
Vietnam experience in American culture and society by placing a tv series 
at the center of this project, which will serve as an example of American 
culture and how American society deals with history.  Certainly, many
issues not mentioed in this brief description will have to be included
but they will remain on the sideleines as the focus is on the memory and
identity as deisplayed and what conclusions can be drawn from those
images.
	This topic clearly shows my interest in the newer technology as
helpful for today's generation to understand or simply get a better
picture of the past.  Thus, I am also trying to keep history alive and
bring it closer to today's students who are very often more itnerested in 
interactive media and moving pictures than in books and documents;
while I would like to stress that I consider both parts of sources and
resources highly esential and pay attention to the fact that students use
both equally in their works. 


________

Thank you very much for your kind assistance.

Sincerely,

Natalie Weiser
History/Cultural Studies
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030