Western Civilization, Part Two
Spring, 2010
Instructor: Wen-ling Su Wed. 9:10-12:00 Classroom: LB301 Office: LC306
E-mail: wling1@ms23.hinet.net Office Hours: W 12-1:30
Overview:
This one-year course surveys the major social, political, and intellectual movements in the West. This semester we will trace the development of the last 500 years or so, moving from the Age of Baroque to the Information Age. While our discussion follows the general timeline, special emphasis will be placed on major movements in art history (such as the Baroque style, Neoclassical Art, Impressionism, Surrealism, Expressionism, Pop Art) and in the history of ideas (such as the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Marxism, Modernism, Psychoanalysis, and Postmodernism).
The chief objective is to help students develop a global and historical perspective.
Students will also acquire critical thinking skills as they organize and evaluate information in group and individual projects.
Classroom activities consist of lectures, group discussion, and multi-media presentations. Outside the classroom, students are required to attend regular film screenings.
Text:
Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Grading:
Quizzes & three tests 80%
Presentation / Participation 20%
Requirements:
1. Attendance policy: The FIRST absence for whatever reason will not be held against you, but each subsequent absence will result in a 5-point deduction of the class average. Late arrival or early departure will cost you a 3-point deduction each time.
2. Mandatory film viewing: You are required to attend THREE movie screenings.
They will take place from 12:40 to around 3:00 on Wednesday afternoons.
Questions regarding the films will be included in the midterm and final exams.
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3. Presentation: Teams of 3 students are responsible for one 30-min. (but no more than 30 min.) presentation on one of the topics listed in the schedule. Presenters should give an oral presentation based on analysis of particular works or a specific book, providing images and main points on PowerPoint slides. However, they MUST NOT simply read from these notes; rather, they should speak freely and knowledgeably about the topic, using the notes as a reference. Each
presenter should include his or her name on PowerPoint at the beginning of his/her section(s) of the presentation. Presentations will be graded on content, organization, and preparedness.
Tentative Schedule:
Date Topics 2/24 Orientation
Film: The Mission (1986, Joffe, dir.) 3/3 The Age of the Baroque (p. 503)
Ch. 20 The Catholic Reformation and the Baroque Style 3/10 Ch. 21 Absolute Power and Aristocratic Style (pp. 527-47)
Ch. 22 The Baroque in the Protestant North
Presentation #1: Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Rubens 3/17 Ch. 23 Scientific Revolution and the New Learning
The Age of Enlightenment (p. 597)
Ch. 24 The Promise of Reason (pp. 599-604) Presentation #2: Vermeer & Rembrandt 3/24 Ch. 24 The Promise of Reason (pp. 604-615)
Ch. 25 The Limits of Reason
Presentation #3: Baroque vs Rococo Architecture 3/31 Ch. 26 Eighteenth-Century Art, Music, and Society
The Romantic Era (p. 671)
Ch. 27 The Romantic View of Nature (pp. 673-78) Presentation #4: Rococo & Neoclassical Painting 4/7 No class.
4/14 Test #1
Ch. 27 The Romantic View of Nature (pp. 678-98) Ch. 28 The Romantic Hero
Presentation #5: Romantic Landscape Painting (Constable & Turner, American)
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4/21 Ch. 29 The Romantic Style in Art and Music
Presentation #6: Romantic Painting: Goya, Delacroix, Géricault Film: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994, Branagh, dir.)
4/28 Realism and the Modernist Turn (p. 741) Ch. 30 Industry, Empire, and the Realist Style
Presentation #7: Realist Painting: Courbet, Manet, Homer 5/5 Ch. 31 The Move toward Modernism
Presentation #8: Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Painting Film: Metropolis (1927, Lang, dir.)
5/12 Music Lecture: Prof. Chu Chia-Chong (TBA) 5/19 Test #2
The Triumph of Modernism (p. 811) Ch. 32 The Modernist Assault 5/26 Ch. 33 The Freudian Revolution
Ch. 34 Total War, Totalitarianism, and the Arts Presentation #9: Picasso, Matisse, Munch, Duchamp Film: Rashomon (1950, Kurosawa, dir.)
6/2 Ch. 35 The Quest for Meaning
Presentation #10: Surrealism: Miró, Klee, Dali, Kahlo 6/9 The Postmodern Turn (p. 901)
Ch. 36 Identity and Liberation Chs. 37-38 The Information Age
Presentation #11: Pollock, Andy Warhol, Hanson 6/16 No class (Dragon Boat Festival)
6/23 Test #3
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