SYLLABUS
Introduction to the Humanities II
Hum A212 section 001 - Spring 2014
THEME: A study of a given historical period or periods with reference to art, literature, philosophy, and music.
Course
Description:
 | Asks how the humanistic tradition is relevant to a person trying to understand the world, in Anchorage, at the start of the 21st century. |
| Explores major methods of contemporary humanistic criticism and major trends in the humanistic tradition. |
| Investigates how aesthetic products reflect specific world views. |
| Examines the creation and evaluation of works of art in social and historical contexts. |
| Introduces techniques of humanistic inquiry and examples of art criticism. |
| Considers how the humanistic tradition is related to the arts and culture of the contemporary U.S.A. |
Prerequisites/Assumed Knowledge:
English 111, Hum
211, and a Fine Arts GER are strongly recommended as preparation for this
course. This is a writing and reading intensive course which explores multiple
artistic media. It is primarily designed for students preparing for the Bachelor
of Liberal Studies Program and students preparing for the BA in Elementary Education.
TEXTS:
Art History's History (2nd Edition) by Vernon Hyde Minor (Paperback - Jul 14, 2000) (AHH)
Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (4th Edition) by Charles E. Bressler (Paperback - Jul 26, 2006) (LC)
Arts and Culture, Combined Volume (2nd Edition) by Janetta Rebold Benton and Robert DiYanni (Paperback - Jul 19, 2004) (AC)
Course grades are based on:
Writing
Assignments
- 50% - nine essays showing an understanding of the materials covered in class
and the assigned readings in response to questions, each with a minimum of 300
words,
25%
of the grade will be based on a term
project.
Attendance -15%.
Dialogue -10%.
CLASS: Hours: TR 10:00 A - 11:15 A Professional Studies Building Room 210C
OFFICE: Administration and Humanities Building Room 277. Here is my Current Schedule.
Phone: 786-4458 (office), 694-1023 (home). The best way to get a message to me is via e-mail. Please feel free to call my home phone. My web page is located at http://wsjamison.uaa.alaska.edu and my e-mail address is wsjamison@UAA.ALASKA.EDU. Please become familiar with the links from this syllabus to lecture notes and other sources for many of the topics we will discuss.
January 14:
This lecture includes an introduction to the course and description of course requirements. We will discuss: the purpose of studying the Humanities and the theories used to study them.
For next class read:
AC - 1. Dawn of Culture
LC - 1. Defining Criticism, Theory, and Literature
January 16:
This lecture concerns a review of the dawn of culture and a first look at theory.
For next class read:
AC - 2. Ancient Egypt,
AHH - Introduction and 1. The Academy
January 21:
This lecture continues with a look at theory.
For next class read:
AC - 3. Aegean Culture and Early Greece,
LC - 2. A Historical Survey of Literary Criticism
January 23:
This lecture continues with a look at Ancient Greek and Early Christian Theory.
For next class read:
AC - 4. Classical and Hellenistic Greece,
AHH - 2. What is Art?
January 28:
This lecture continues considering Ancient Greek and Early Christian Theory.
Term paper topics due.
For next class read:
AC - 5. Roman Civilization,
LC - 3. New Criticism
January 30:
First Written Assignment due.
This lecture will look at the theory called "New Criticism".
For next class read:
AC - 6. Judaism, Early Christianity, and Byzantine Civilization,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 96
February 4:
"Final" term paper topic and tentative bibliography due.
This lecture will look at the theories up to and including Kant.
For next class read:
AC - 7. Islamic Civilization,
LC - 4. Reader - Response Criticism
February 6:
Term paper thesis statement and outline due.
This lecture will look at the theory of Reader Response Criticism as well as discuss Judaic and Islamic narratives.
For next class read:
AC - 8. Indian Civilization,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 101
February 11:
Term paper first rough draft due.
This lecture will look at the theories up to and including Hegel.
For next class read:
AC - 9. Early Chinese and Japanese Civilizations,
LC 5. Structuralism
February 13:
Second Written Assignment due.
This lecture will begin to look at the theories following Hegel. Structuralism.
For next class read:
AC - 10. Early Civilizations of the Americas and Africa,
LC - 6. Deconstruction
February 18:
Term paper second rough draft due.
This lecture will continue a look at Structuralism and Deconstruction.
For next class read:
AC - 11. Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 124
February 20:
This lecture will continue a look at Modernism.
For next class read:
AC - 12. Gothic and Late Middle Ages,
LC - 7. Psychoanalytic Criticism
February 25:
Term paper discussion groups assigned, third draft due. This draft will be shared with group.
This lecture will continue a look at psychological interpretations.
For next class read:
AC - 13. The Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 149
February 27:
Third Written Assignment due.
This lecture will look at Formalism, Sociological, and Marxist Perspectives.
For next class read:
AC - 14. The Renaissance in Northern Europe,
LC - 8. Feminism
March 4:
This lecture will look at Feminism.
For next class read:
AC - 15. The Baroque Age,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 184
March 6:
This lecture will look at the Semiotic.
Term paper groups present initial concerns.
For next class read:
AC - 16. The Eighteenth Century,
LC - 9. Marxism
March 10 - 14: Spring Break No classes
March 18:
This lecture will look at Marxism again.
For next class read:
AC - 17. Romanticism and Realism,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 214
March 20:
This lecture will look at Romanticism.
Fourth Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 18. Belle Époque: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism,
LC - 10. Cultural Poetics or New Historicism
March 25:
This lecture will look at Belle Époque: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
For next class read:
AC - 19. Chinese Civilization After the Fifteenth Century,
AHH - 3. The Emergence of Method and Modernism in Art History to p. 222
March 27:
This lecture will look at local art in the context of the text and we will discuss the usefulness of the text AHH.
Term paper groups readdress concerns.
For next class read:
AC - 20. Japanese Civilization After the Fifteenth Century,
LC - 11. Cultural Studies
April 1:
This lecture continues a look at local art in the context of the text.
For next class read:
AC - 21. Age of Anxiety: World War I and After,
April 3:
This lecture continues a discussion on the value of the texts, course, and future readings.
Fifth Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 22. Modern Africa and Latin America,
April 8:
For next class read "Truth and Tolerance" posted on BlackBoard.
April 10:
Sixth Written Assignment due.
For next class read: "The Collapse of the Fact / Value Dichotomy" posted on Blackboard.
April 15:
Seventh Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 23. Age of Affluence: World War II and After,
April 17:
For next class read: Think Again by Stanley Fish.
April 22:
Eighth Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 24. Diversity in Contemporary Life,
April 24:
Term Paper due.
For next class read: this selection.
April 29: at final schedule on Tuesday 10:00 A - 12:45 P
Ninth Written Assignment due.
This syllabus may be adjusted at any time to meet the class or instructor’s requirements upon one week’s notice to students.