Welcome to Intro to Humanites

Class discussions will include:

Chapters discussed:

  1. Part I Fundamentals
    • 1 The Humanities: An Introduction
    • 2 What Is a Work of Art?
  2. Part II The Arts
    • 4 Painting
    • 5 Sculpture
    • 6 Architecture
    • 7 Literature
    • 9 Music
    • 11 Film
    • 13 Photography
  3. Part III Interrelationships
    • 14 The Interrelationships of the Arts
    • 15 Is It Art or Something Like It?

 

Updated Content

I will post content new content here

Click to see the YouTube Video submissions.

Drawing Elements:

  1. Dot
  2. Line
  3. Value: lights and darks
  4. Color
  5. Contour: outline
  6. Shape: large and small

Design Elements:

  1. Dynamics
  2. Composition
  3. Rhythm
  4. Repetition

 

5 Universal Fundamentals of Music:

  1. Timbre - Tone Quality; Each instrument will sound different from the next. Just as every player will sound different from the next.
  2. Tonality - A collection of tones, or sounds; A key signature
  3. Pulse - Rhythmic texture; Beat
  4. Density - Amount of activity; Concentration of sound; Balance of sound and silence; Balance of space and movement
  5. Implication - Meaning; Purpose

The Syllabus for this class is available here.

If you need to use SUPER click here.

Major Projects

Each project below containing an “*” is required for completion of the course. Any one of these projects that is not completed will result in an “F” for the course unless individual arrangements are made at the instructor’s discretion.

*Tree of Influence 5%

The Tree of Influence is actually a web which will branch out with names and information about the topic. This project will be connected to the second film review. Pick any film of interest to you. After watching the film research it (why it was created, etc.). Research the writer. What other films has he/she written/created, why? What is the goal of this artist’s work? The Tree of Influence will be presented in a prezi. Information about prezi can be found online at www.prezi.com. I will present tutorials to aid in developing your prezi.

The completed Tree of Influence must contain:

  • At least 30 influences on the film/influences the film has had on other works, people, etc. These include events, people, art, films, etc.
  • A brief statement about each influence and the source of information for each influence.
  • Photographs and video content are optional and can add style to the over-all presentation

Wikipedia is not an acceptable source for the works cited and will be treated as plagiarism.

*Short Film – 5%

We will discuss this during the term

*Discovering Our Artists – 10%

21-step/slide prezi:

  • Any artist (poet, musician, visual artist, etc.) originally from southwest Ohio or the area where you currently reside
  • Introduce the artist
  • Genre/Medium
  • Region(s) where artist performed
  • Time period
  • Current events of the time period
  • Influences on the artist
  • Artist’s impact on the world
  • 20 slides of content—information, pictures, video, etc
  • 1works cited slide

*Narrative of a Museum Visit – 10%:

Visit a Museum during this term. Write a narration of your visit. Tell us:

  • Where you went
  • What you saw
  • Which pieces did you find most interesting. Why?
  • Which pieces did you like and dislike. Why?
  • Why you chose this location
  • How were you influenced by this visit

Share your experiences with the class via interactive content on BlackBoard
Submit a typed, single-spaced, minimum of 2 pages report via BlackBoard

*2 Film Reviews – 5% each (Total 10%)

You will need to watch 2 films during this term from the list below. The first film will be watched online. The second film will be of your choosing. The second film review will include a research component. You will need to research the film, the writer, etc. We will have discussions prior to completing the second film review. Examples available at: http://movies.yahoo.com/

Students will need to imagine they are film critics. Write down questions that you have as they arise during the films. Research the content of the film in order to incorporate educated information into your reviews.

Film reviews must:

  • Be 2 to 2 ½ pages double-spaced
  • This assignment should be somewhat enjoyable
  • give your opinion on the following:
  • Story
  • Character Development
  • Visual Effects/Enhancements
  • Camera Angles
  • Music/Sound Track
  • Acting

Additional Assignments

Additional coursework will be given during the term. This will include, but is not limited to answering Perception Keys contained within chapters of the textbook.

Useful resources:

Imagery:

Words and phrases that stimulate the mind's ability to imagine sensory responses

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Sympathy

    I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas!
When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
And the river flows like a stream of glass;
When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
And the faint perfume from its chalice steals —
I know what the caged bird feels!

    I know why the caged bird beats his wing
Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
For he must fly back to his perch and cling
When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
And they pulse again with a keener sting —
I know why he beats his wing!

    I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings —
I know why the caged bird sings!

Sympathy and The American Dream

Part 1

After reading Sympathy by Paul Lawrence Dunbar answer the following questions: 

  1. What is the piece about? (1/2 page single-spaced)
    1. Stanza 1:
      1. What is the setting in lines 2-6 of the first stanza?
    2. Stanza 2:
      1. What is the mood in the second stanza?
      2. Why does the caged bird beat his wing even though he knows he is in a cage?
    3. Stanza 3:
      1. Why does the caged bird sing?
      2. What is the song about?

Part 2

The American Dream

  1. What is the American Dream?
  2. What is America’s obligations to non-Americans?
  3. What is freedom?
  4. When is freedom a bad thing?

From Stream of Consciousness to Lyric:

Complete the following in a single word processor document:

  1. Create a new stream of consciousness for at least 15 minutes
  2. Create a story based on this stream of consciousness
  3. Create a poem or lyric based on the story
  4. Create a haiku based on the poem or lyric

Refer to Chapter 7 in the text book for information on poems, etc. Remember that a stream of consciousness is continuous writing over a length of time without stopping to edit. Do not edit the stream of consciousness. But you can change the content as you complete steps 2-4 above.

Music Examples

Trumpet and Flugelhorn

Ingrid Jensen

I'm not sure what the name of this song is.

What do you think is the meaning of this song?

Ingrid Jensen plays Trumpet and Flugelhorn, which looks like a weird trumpet. What do you think she is trying to say with her playing?

Rumos Musica

Clarice Assad

What do you think is the meaning of this song?

 

It's Alright With Me

J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding

The Soloists in this video are: J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding - Trombone, Tommy Flanagan - Piano.

What do you think each musician is saying (what is the implication) during his solo?