SYLLABUS
Introduction to the Humanities II
Hum A212 section 601 - Fall 2006
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 2:30P – 3:45P Room ARTS 116
OFFICE: MWF 12 - 2 PM in Administration and Humanities Building Room 261 or by appointment. 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.
August 29:
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
August 31:
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
September 4 - 5: Labor Day Holiday (no classes)
September 7:
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
September 12:
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?
September 14:
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
September 19:
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
September 21:
"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
September 26:
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
September 28:
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
October 3:
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
October 5:
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
October 10:
This lecture will continue a look at Modernism.
For next class read:
AC - 12. Gothic and Late Middle Ages,
LC - 7. Psychoanalytic Criticism
October 12:
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
October 17:
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
October 19:
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
October 24:
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
October 26:
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
October 31:
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
November 2:
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
November 7:
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
November 9:
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,
November 14:
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,
November 16:
For next class read "Truth and Tolerance" posted on BlackBoard.
November 21:
Sixth Written Assignment due.
For next class read: "The Collapse of the Fact / Value Dichotomy" posted on Blackboard.
November 23:
November 28:
Seventh Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 23. Age of Affluence: World War II and After,
November 30:
For next class read: Think Again by Stanley Fish.
December 5:
Eighth Written Assignment due.
For next class read:
AC - 24. Diversity in Contemporary Life,
December 7: Student Survey day!
Term Paper due.
For next class read: this selection.
December 14: Final meeting is Thursday from 1:00 P - 3:45 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.