HUM 1 Intro to Humanities

Instructor: Prof. Michelle Mueller (mmueller@peralta.edu)

TTh 9:30-10:45 AM

Berkeley City College, Room 322

Spring 2015

Office Hours: Mon. 2:30-3:30 Rm 552

 

BCC Course Description: Humanities seen through various forms of expression: The arts and society, such as dance, painting, music, sculpture, and mythology; theory and practice in artistic creation to stimulate personal awareness.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Identify and describe the different humanistic disciplines and put them into historical context, keeping in mind their various socio-cultural functions.
• Describe the basic elements and principles of the formal analysis of various artistic disciplines, and apply that analysis toward understanding and interpreting various humanistic works (of literature, visual arts, film, music, theater, dance, and philosophy). Articulate personal sensibilities of taste, and be aware of the diverse cultural responses and approaches that exist between people and the arts.

 

Intro to this section:

In this course, we contemplate works of art and literature and creativity as a human process. This section will have a special social justice focus. Throughout our course, we ask, what are the factors behind certain works of art and literature being remembered as classics? This question includes both an analysis of the positive and memorable aspects of certain works, and also a critical look at systems of oppression that lead to the erasure of other works.

This course draws on instructor’s specializations in religion, philosophy, and mythology, while we also incorporate art, music, and film into our humanities education. Many of our exercises and assignments have to do with creative expression and free speech.

In this course, we will work with the natural, organic flow as our group digests, analyzes, and creates material. Students should look to the current week in the Moodle classroom page for homework.

My hope is that all students will be enrolled in the class and accessing Moodle quickly. Students can email me at mmueller@peralta.edu for files when they are not added to Moodle. If students are appropriately registered, it is their responsibility to locate the readings on Moodle.

TEXTS:

Because of the nature of this course—an introduction to several areas of study under the humanities—most of our readings will be excerpts or articles, which professor will make available through Moodle classroom. Students must access Moodle on a regular basis to succeed in this course!

In addition to readings provided by instructor, students have an assignment to read one novel from instructor’s choice selections. Students will work in groups during class time to prepare a group presentation. See Literature Project under ASSIGNMENTS.

Each student reads ONE of the following:

1. Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues, 1993 ISBN 1555838537
2. Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land, 1961
3. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937 ASIN B00BP0OU64

Instructor will work to stock the books at the Bookstore, and one of each on BCC Library Reserve if possible, in the month of February.

 

LIFTING UP LOCAL ART & EVENTS

In our Intro to Humanities class, I (Prof. Mueller) sincerely desire to incorporate student-created art and activities, and local events, into our Humanities education. Here are two ways we will honor that course philosophy.

 

Art Walk – Art Walks are popular community events in urban areas. Several artists come together to share and display their art; the life of the community is enriched by viewing galleries together and separately on this night. Two or three times throughout the semester, we will participate in an Art Walk through our own halls. For a designated period of time (5-15 minutes), students and instructor will browse and view artwork in the BCC corridor. Students are encouraged to spend the amount of time viewing individual works of art that feel right for them. You may divide your time among works of art more equally, or spend longer periods examining certain works that speak to you. This is not a class break. This is a class activity. After the Art Walk, students will return to the classroom and journal any responses, reflections, or notes on their mind. We will discuss some works of art that spoke to students.

 

Student Announcements – Also honoring student-led activities and events, the final 5 minutes of each TUESDAY meeting are designated for students to share any announcements about BCC, Peralta, or broader community events they wish to invite others to. Flyers are handy!

ASSIGNMENTS – Assignments test students’ developing abilities to analyze and interpret humanistic works from the various humanistic disciplines. Each of the following counts for 20% of your final grade. Details below.  

• Music Project
• Art History: Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’ and Related Paper
• Literature Project
• Final Analytic Paper or Creative Project
• Participation (attendance, participation in class discussion and on Moodle, plus any minor assignments announced as appropriate)

 

Music Project

Music is one of the arts under the Humanities. In this activity, students are asked to share a piece of music (or excerpted piece) that in some way moves them. We will share music on Tues., Feb. 3 and Thurs., Feb. 5. Music can be from any genre: popular, hip hop, opera, Broadway, classical, from any region of the world, etc. etc. Your appreciation for the music may come from orchestral production or the composition, from lyrics or beats that speak to you politically, or for many details together. This is a chance to share something that you love!

Because of time constraints, students must choose a maximum of 3 minutes of music to share. I know this is limiting but is the only practical way we can accomplish this task during our time together. Students will be allotted a total of 3 minutes for music, and 1 minute of commentary. Discuss what moves you about the song, what expressions of humanity the song portrays, and why you consider it art. The song may be a long-time favorite, a current song, or something out of your comfort zone that you have discovered. It may even be something you have created. (If it is an unproduced song, make sure you have permission to share—e.g., if it is a recording of your best friend’s original work, ask them before sharing it with our class!) Vulnerability in sharing is highly valued. Tell us what matters in your view!

To ensure smooth flow during this class meeting, students should email Prof. Mueller in advance (by Friday 5pm for Tuesday, Tuesday night for Thursday) the piece of music. If it is an audio or video link with online streaming, email Prof. Mueller the URL link and the exact time (minutes:seconds) to start the sound clip. If the music is on a CD or a digital file that cannot be shared easily, visit Prof. Mueller during her office hour or make other arrangements so that Prof. Mueller can include the piece on her playlist. If you are familiar with Dropbox, I use Dropbox with email mmueller05@gmail.com.

Art History: Judy Chicago’s ‘The Dinner Party’ and Related Paper

Into the course, we will view (virtually) Judy Chicago’s famous feminist three-dimensional work of art, The Dinner Party, currently housed in the Brooklyn Museum of New York. The Dinner Party includes a place setting for important women from history, literature, and religious mythology. Writing assignment (2-3 pages) accompanying this collection TBD.

 

Literature Project (we will begin reading in groups before Spring Break and do Group Presentations after Spring Break)

There are so many important works of fiction and literature in the world, being added to every year. We can only glimpse a snapshot in our Intro class. In order to maximize our intake, the class will divide itself into three groups to read and share from three works. (Each group reads and presents on one novel.)

Students have three books to choose (one book) from:

4. Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues, 1993 ISBN 1555838537
5. Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land, 1961
6. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937 ASIN B00BP0OU64

While preparing a presentation, each group will choose a section of 2-10 pages for the whole class to read from their book. Groups must decide on their excerpt in advance (date TBD) for all students to have read the piece. Once established by the group, Prof. Mueller will upload to the Moodle classroom page.

 

Final Analytic Paper or Creative Project (due last week of class, May 12-18)

Students will have the option to produce a creative project or an analytic paper as their final submission.

An analytic paper will be a critical essay discussing the novel that the student read for the Literature Project, using analytic theories from two or more of the articles we have read for this course.

A creative project might be an original creation of visual art, performance art, or creative writing.

Class time will be allotted for development of final projects through creative discussion with peers. Through this method, we will enact and learn from the interactive communication between human beings that guides and inspires many works of art.