HUM 122 Syllabus

HUM 122 Introduction to Humanities
MWF 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM GEB 342
TR 12:30PM - 1:50 PM CC 344 (late start)
TR 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM CC 344
Dr. Timothy Hoare, CC 342, ext. 4526
Homepage: http://staff.jccc.edu/thoare
E-mail: thoare@jccc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This interdisciplinary study begins with a look at artistic and technical elements of several artforms including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre, film, dance and literature. Major themes expressed in the works and their reflection of the values of their culture are also examined. Credit hours: 3. Contact hours: 3. Lecture: 3. Lab: 0. Course type: Transfer. Most recent date revised: Spring 2000. Fees/supplies: None.

REQUIRED TEXT

Sporre, D. Perceiving the Arts. 9th Edition. Prentice Hall. 2009. ISBN: 978-0-13-604896-1. Adoption Date: Fall 2005.
(additional readings will be distributed periodically as supplements to primary text)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

1. Define and identify artistic elements of selected visual, performing and literary arts.

2. Discuss the relationship between the subject matter, the formal elements and the meaning of artistic works.

3. Identify the human values exemplified by works from various times and cultures.

4. Explore the role of these works in influencing or reflecting the state of a given society.

5. Describe what the arts have in common.

6. Identify the uniqueness of each of the arts studied.

7. Analyze, through critical writing and oral expression, specific works of art.

8. Explore the variety of human aesthetic expression.

9. Develop a background for continued exploration of the arts.

10. Increase one's own aesthetic awareness.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

1. All assigned readings are to be read, which implies critical reflection, analysis and preparation for discussion. This further implies that your in-class participation can well make the difference between one grade and another.

2. The necessity for regular attendance should go without saving. As Woody Allen put it, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." More details about this below.

3. As study aids for major exams, there will be weekly quizzes and/or in-class exercises that will focus on the subject matter of the given week, i.e., painting, sculpture, dance, etc.

4. Four exams, both objective and subjective in content.

5. One paper of three to five pages, dealing with the analysis of a visual artform (e.g., painting, sculpture) that is on exhibit at either a) the JCCC campus at-large, or b) JCCC's Nerman Museum of Art. Specific format criteria and guidelines for this paper are available on this website at Analysis Paper Guidelines (click from here or from homepage).

6. Grading will be based upon the following point distributions:

Attendance/participation in discussions: 25 points. I will allow a maximum of 3 "no questions asked" absences; I will deduct 2 points for each absence beyond this.
Weekly quizzes and exercises: 100 points. This includes 8 chapter quizzes and 2 in-class exercises @ 10 points each. The number of exercises may increase as new concepts or ideas arise; in such cases, the point value will increase accordingly. Weekly quizzes may be made up, but not in-class exercises.
Arts analysis paper @ 50 points.
Four exams (quarterly) @ 65 points each = 260 points.
Total: 435 points.
If the student deems it necessary, he/she can earn extra credit points. Opportunities for doing so will be explained on the first day of the class.
No assignments, extra credit submissions, etc. whatsoever will be accepted following the last day of scheduled classes (i.e., prior to Finals Week).

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
MWF 9:00 AM and TR 2:00 PM

Page numbers refer to required text for this course

All dates refer to Monday of the given week

WEEK 1 (8/17): Introduction to course; basic principles of fine arts

WEEK 2 (8/24): What Are the Arts and How Do We Respond to Them?, p.1-27; analysis exercise

WEEK 3 (8/31): Pictures: Painting, Printmaking and Photography, p. 28-72

WEEK 4 (9/7): NO CLASS ON MONDAY 9/7 (LABOR DAY); Pictures, etc., cont.

WEEK 5 (9/14): REVIEW, EXAM

WEEK 6 (9/21): Sculpture, p.73-99; campus sculpture exercise

WEEK 7 (9/28): Sculpture, cont.

WEEK 8 (10/5): Architecture, p. 100-132

WEEK 9 (10/12): REVIEW; NO CLASS ON THUR-FRI

WEEK 10 (10/19): EXAM (9AM Mon, 2PM Tues); Theatre, p.189-213

WEEK 11 (10/26): Theatre, cont.; Film/Cinema, p. 214-235; NO CLASS ON WED-THUR-FRI

WEEK 12 (11/2): ART ANALYSIS PAPER DUE ON MON (9AM CLASS) OR TUES (2PM CLASS); Film/Cinema, cont.

WEEK 13 (11/9): REVIEW, EXAM

WEEK 14 (11/16): Dance, p. 236-255

WEEK 15 (11/23): Music, p. 133-162; NO CLASS WED-FRI (THANKSGIVING BREAK)

WEEK 16 (11/30): Music, cont.

WEEK 17 (12/7): REVIEW; FINAL EXAM WEEK IS THURSDAY 12/10 - WEDNESDAY 12/16

EXAM TIMES FOR THESE CLASSES ARE:
MWF 9:00 AM: WEDNESDAY 12/16 @ 9 AM
TR 2:00 PM: THURSDAY 12/10 @ 2 PM

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
"LATE START" TR 12:30 PM

Page numbers refer to required text for this course

All dates refer to Monday of the given week

WEEK 1 (8/31): Introduction to course; basic principles of fine arts; What Are the Arts and How Do We Respond to Them?, p.1-27

WEEK 2 (9/7): Analysis exercise; Pictures: Painting, Printmaking and Photography, p. 28-72

WEEK 3 (9/14): Pictures: Painting, Printmaking and Photography, p. 28-72, cont.

WEEK 4 (9/21): REVIEW, EXAM

WEEK 5 (9/28): Sculpture, p.73-99; campus sculpture exercise

WEEK 6 (10/5): Sculpture, cont.; Architecture, p. 100-132

WEEK 7 (10/12): Architecture, cont.; THURSDAY: NO CLASS

WEEK 8 (10/19): REVIEW; EXAM

WEEK 9 (10/26): Theatre, p.189-213; THURSDAY: NO CLASS

WEEK 10 (11/2): Theatre, cont.; Film, p. 214-235; ART ANALYSIS PAPER DUE BY FRIDAY

WEEK 11 (11/9): Film, cont.; REVIEW

WEEK 12 (11/16): EXAM; Dance, p. 236-255

WEEK 13 (11/23): Dance, cont.; THURSDAY: NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING BREAK)

WEEK 14 (11/30): Music, p. 133-162

WEEK 15 (12/7): REVIEW; FINAL EXAM WEEK IS THURSDAY 12/10 - WEDNESDAY 12/16

FINAL EXAM TIME FOR THIS CLASS IS: THURSDAY 12/10 @ 12 PM

SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

1. All JCCC students are issued a college e-mail account that is accessed through MyJCCC. This account is used by the college to communicate course, grade, financial aid, enrollment and other important college information. It is your responsibility to check your JCCC e-mail account regularly for important information.

2. I am a strong proponent of the liberal arts. I approach material in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner. In this Humanities course, religion, philosophy, ethics, art, literature, theatre, psychology, the media, history, political science, et al. will inevitably come into conversation with one another. Education is about gaining proficiency with the tools to discern and explore these interrelationships, to interpret and evaluate them critically, and to continue to do so throughout your lives. In short, there's a world of people, places, ideas and books out there; after you graduate, you have to be able to go to a dinner party and talk competently about something besides your job!

3. I am not simply a lecturer who loves the sound of his own voice. Expect me to ask questions of you and to generate discussion with you. While I most certainly want you to understand my ideas and opinions on the material, I value your efforts, your opinions, your input and your reflections as well.

4. I am a gracious host who likes gracious guests. It's not enough simply to arrive, sign the register and then sit in an out-of-the-way corner. Be prepared to take part in the class.

5. We all have doctor appointments, childcare concerns, or "just one of those things" that come up now and again. If you have to leave a session early, please inform me before the class begins. It is simply the courteous thing to do.

6. I care about the ambience in which I teach and in which students learn. I expect you to be attentive, to turn off your cell phones, and to treat one another with respect while you are here, and to pick up after yourselves when you depart (papers, soft drink cans, etc.).

7. Last but not least, academic dishonesty, i.e., cheating on exams, intentional plagiarism on written assignments, will not be tolerated. A first offense will result in an "F" on the exam, paper, etc. concerned. A second offense will result in an "F" for the course.

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