OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HUMANITIES 122 COURSE SYLLABUS
1. Course Course Course
Prefix Number Name Credit Lecture Lab
HUM 122 Contemporary
Culture 3 3 0 &
The Arts (Peace and Social Justice
Studies Concentration)
2. Prerequisites:
None
3. Course (Catalog) Description:
Course concentrates on culture and arts of the last 50 years, with focus on appreciation and critical evaluation of contemporary culture. Content provides interdisciplinary perspectives on literature, drama, visual arts, film, and cultural theory, as well as forces that influence the arts.
4. Learning Objectives:
After completing the class, students will be able to:
a. Describe some important cultural, intellectual and artistic developments of the last sixty years.
b. Explain and appraise the global interconnections and dimensions of these developments and exemplify the rich cultural diversity of our contemporary culture.
c. Identify, interpret and assess some major contemporary works from a minimum of four distinct art forms – taken from literature, performing arts, music, visual arts, architecture, photography, film, television and digital or cybernetic art.
d. Recognize the elements of the basic art forms presented and the interrelationships of these art forms.
e. Analyze and evaluate some acknowledged art works using the basic analytical and critical vocabulary associated with the art forms studied.
f. Analyze and evaluate these cultural, intellectual and artistic works in their historical, social, political, and economic contexts.
g. Explain cultural theory, identify and describe the main concepts in a variety of theoretical approaches and apply some of these concepts in debates about important ideas regarding the production of art and its relationship to culture.
h.
Exhibit values
related to teamwork and collaboration, fostered by the pedagogy of
shared-inquiry and critical dialogue appropriate to the humanities and
philosophy.
5. Academic Integrity:
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:
· cheating,
· plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
· falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
· helping others to cheat,
· unauthorized changes on official documents,
· pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be
you,
· making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
· any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook
6. Outline of Topics (The following is a tentative course
schedule. Some readings will
be announced later in the semester, or modified
depending on the pace of the
class).
Week
1: 1/17-1/19
Tuesday
Introduction to
Course and One Another
Syllabus Review, Course Overview, Expectations
Thursday
Critical
Reflection in the Arts and Humanities
Writing critical response papers in Hum 122
HW: Bring to class your favorite work of art (photo, music, novel, poem, painting, etc…)
Week 2:
1/24-1/26
Tuesday
Humanities,
Culture, and the Arts
Presentation-Define Art?
Beginning questions on art, culture, and humanities.
Group Activity-Share favorite art works
READ: Persepolis-pgs
3-142 (The Shabbat)
Thursday
Identity,
Religion, and War-Artists React & Cultural Location
Graphic Novel
–The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Begin discussion of Persepolis pgs 3-142 (The Shabbat)
READ: Persepolis-pgs 143-245 (The Veil)
Week
3: 1/31-2/2
Tuesday
Persepolis – Discuss pgs 143-245 (The Veil)
READ: Persepolis pg 246-341
Thursday
Persepolis- Discuss pgs 246-341
Finish discussion of Persepolis
Week
4: 2/7-2/9
Tuesday
REFLECTION
#1 DUE-Persepolis
War &
Cultural Anxiety-World Events Captured by Photography
Propaganda Art
Thursday
Social
Movements, Rebellion, and the Arts
Civil, Feminist, & Gay Rights Movements in the US and beyond
Presentation-AIDS, Activism, & Art
Week
5: 2/14-2/16
Tuesday
Play-Angels
in America by Tony Kushner
Film: “WRESTLING WITH ANGELS: PLAYWRIGHT TONY KUSHNER” A FILM BY FREIDA LEE MOCK (98 minutes)
Thursday
Finish film (23 minutes)
What is a Play?
In class exercise: Play script analysis
READ: Act 1 & 2 Millennium Approaches
Week 6:
2/21-2/23
Tuesday
Begin
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
The Order of the Play- handout
Discuss Acts 1 & 2
READ:
Act 3 Millennium Approaches
Thursday
Discuss Act 3 Millennium Approaches
Week
7: 2/28-3/1
Tuesday
Finish
Millennium Approaches
Film version-Angels in America
Thursday
EXAM #1
READ: The
Art of Protest (handout)
Week
8: 3/6-3/8
Tuesday
REFLECTION
#2 DUE-Millennium Approaches
Civil
Rights Movement-Freedom Songs, Photography, and Speeches
Discussion- The Art of Protest by T.V. Reed- “Singing Civil Rights”
Thursday
Civil
Rights Movements/ Global Connections
Novel- The
Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
READ: Book 1-4
Week 9:
3/12-3/18
SPRING
BREAK NO CLASS
READ:
Books 1-4 of The Poisonwood Bible
Week
10: 3/20-3/22
Tuesday
The
Poisonwood Bible
Discuss chapters 1-4 of The Poisonwood Bible
Thursday
3/22
TONIGHT-WHM KEYNOTE: AMY RICHARDS & GLORIA STEINEM. Required Attendance!
The Poisonwood
Bible
Finish discussion of chapters 1-4
READ: Book 5
Week
11: 3/27-3/29
Tuesday
Reflection
#3 DUE-WHM Keynote Amy Richards/Gloria Steinem
The
Poisonwood Bible
Discuss Book 5
READ: Books 6&7
Thursday
Finish The
Poisonwood Bible
Week 12:
4/3-4/5
Tuesday
Consumer
Culture & The Arts
Presentation-
Mass Media and the Culture of Consumption
Analyze 2 films: Manufactured Landscapes & Food, Inc.
Thursday
DUE: The
Poisonwood Bible Paper
Globalization
& The Environmental Impact
Documentary Film-Manufactured Landscapes (80 min) (2007)
Week
13: 4/10-4/12
Tuesday
Finish Manufactured
Landscapes
Discuss Manufactured Landscapes
Globalization
& The Human Connection
Begin Film -Food, Inc. (91 minutes) (2008)
Thursday
Finish Film -Food, Inc.
Week
14: 4/17-4/19
Tuesday
REFLECTION
#5 DUE- Manufactured Landscapes OR Food, Inc.
Global Village,
Technology, & the Human Connection
Journal, Stories, Images, & Graphic Novellas- I LIVE HERE by Mia Kirshner
Read: Journal 1- Chechnya
Thursday
Begin I LIVE HERE- Ingushetia, Chechnya
Read: Journal 2- Burma
4/21- Art
& Activism-Strike Anywhere- REQUIRED ATTENDANCE!!!
Week
15: 4/24-4/26
Tuesday
I LIVE HERE-Burma
Read: Journal 3- Cuidad Juárez
Week
16: 5/1-5/3
Tuesday
I LIVE HERE-Cuidad Juárez
Film: Bordertown (112 min)
Read: Journal 4- Malawi
Thursday
I LIVE HERE-Malawi
Finish Discussion on I LIVE HERE
Week 17:
5/8-5/10
Tuesday
I Live Here
Final Project Presentations
Thursday
I Live Here
Final Project Presentations
7.Methods of Instruction:
8. Course Practices Required:
a. College-level Reading of scholarly articles, literary works, etc.
b. Writing (minimum 15 pages)
c. Basic Computer Literacy
d. Email
e. Observation and analytical skills
f. Critical Thinking
g. Memorization of information
h. OCC Event: 4/21-Art & Activism Event:
Keynote: Strike Anywhere
i.
OCC
WHM Keynote Address: 3/22- Amy Richards/Gloria Steinem
j.
OCC
WHM Events: Rosa Luxemburg or Kita y
Fernanda (choose 1 for Reflection #4)
Participation/Attendance:
This course resembles the “seminar” more than the “lecture,” and therefore particularly depends on the students arriving on time and prepared, and volunteering their experience, knowledge, and viewpoints in large and small groups, discussions, and exercises
Quizzes & Homework
To encourage attendance and class preparation, students will be given a “pop question” quiz at the beginning of class on random days during the semester. The question will be based an important issue or concept covered in the readings for that day. Additionally, homework assignments will also be counted towards your participation & attendance grade.
POP QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP AND I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE HOMEWORK.
Written Work:
All written work must be typed, double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins, page #’s and written with proper grammar and spelling. If submitted electronically they must be in a .doc or .docx, otherwise papers will not be accepted. I will only accept hard copies of written work on the date the assignments are due. Exceptions are made in emergency situations and must be pre-approved by the instructor.
Late Work Policy
A student is responsible for all work missed during an absence. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any missed notes, assignments, or information in the event of an absence. I recommend you exchange contact information with someone in class in order to get missed information in the event of an absence. A student who anticipates an absence should notify the instructor or academic department prior to the absence.
Work is due whether or not you
are present in class. Assignments will
lose 1 letter grade if submitted late. I do not accept any late assignments
that is more than ONE WEEK late. Additionally, I DO NOT allow revisions on
papers or exams.
If necessary and with proper documentation students in unforeseen circumstances may make up a missed exam. Make up exams will be held in the Testing Center and will be entirely essay based questions. Students cannot make up quizzes, homework, and other in class assignments.
Any exceptions to the above late assignment
policy will be made solely at the discretion of the instructor and will be
considered only in the most serious circumstances.
Extra Credit:
There will be ample extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. I will announce these opportunities in class and via email. Students can earn points by attending outside events and writing a short response paper on their experience. Student can earn up to 4 points in extra credit for the semester. Extra credit handout is available on my dept. website.
Email: It is extremely important that students check email regularly. After the 1st day of class students must update their preferred email address in Oakton’s Banner. Likewise, email should be checked prior to coming to class for any changes to the course schedule, announcements, and other course related events.
Assignment
Requirements:
Reflection
Papers-
On the days indicated on the course schedule, you are to write 5 critical reflection responses. These are to be 2 pages (no more than 2 pages), typed, double-spaced. A detail handout will be provided.
Exams
Students will take 2 exams will be a combination of multiple choice, short answers, and essay questions to test your retention of knowledge, in addition to your ability to critically think and engage with texts, artists/authors, and ideas.
The Poisonwood Bible Paper
Students will write a 4- 5 page paper comparing and contrasting 2 characters of their choice from The Poisonwood Bible. You will be given more detailed instruction on this assignment in a handout at a later date.
Art & Activism Reaction
Paper
Students will attend OCC’s Art & Activism event on Saturday, April
21. The keynote is Strike Anywhere a
I Live Here Project/Paper
Students
will create an art project based off of a social justice issue of their choice.
This project will be culmination of the art & activism conference and
Kirshner’s I Live Here. A detailed
handout will be provided at a later date.
9. Instructional Materials:
The Instructional Materials for the course range from films, slides of artworks, recordings of music, essays, poems, short stories, novels, plays, and graphic novels and online resources.
Additionally, students are expected to the buy the following texts or borrow them from a library during the times they are needed:
1. Satrapi, Marjane, The Complete Persepolis, ISBN 0375714839
2. Kushner, Tony, Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches, ISBN 1559360739
3. Kingsolver, Barbara, The Poisonwood Bible, ISBN 0060175400
4. Kirshner, Mia, I Live Here, ISBN 9780375424786
10. Methods of Evaluating
Student Progress
Final course grade will be calculated as follows:
100 pts- Reflection Papers (5 papers at 25 pts each--2 of which are required attendance at WHM events)
100 pts- Exam
100 pts- I Live Here project
50 pts- The Poisonwood Bible paper
50 pts- Art & Activism Reaction paper
50 pts- Quizzes, Homework, & Participation (25pts small group, 25 pts quizzes & hw)
SCALE: 500-450 pts= A; 449-400= B; 399-350= C; 349-300= D; 299 or less= F
11. Other Course Information:
Instructor Information
Instructor: Angela Koon Office: A213 (Group Offices)
Semester: Spring, 2012 Office Phone: 847.635.1435
(lv.message) e-mail: akoon@oakton.edu Office Hours:
website:
http://www.oakton.edu/user/1/akoon/ T& TH 8:00-9:00 am
Peace
and Social Justice Studies: T&TH 1:50-2:50 pm OR by appointment.
http://www.oakton.edu/academics/special_programs/peace_social_justice/
Cell Phones, PDA’s, and Laptops
Silence and put away phones
when you come to class. NO TEXTING IN CLASS! If you are using a
laptop to take notes while in class I expect that you will not be playing
games, surfing the net, or doing other non-class related activities. If I find that you are doing any of these I will ask you to forego the use of your laptop in class for the duration of the semester.
Discrimination
The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
“Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and service, or employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual assault by or of its students or employees.”
Climate for Learning
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us (myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using insulting terms or remarks when talking to or about individuals or groups.
Disabilities
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability, you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services, area 2400. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skills or requirements of a course or degree program. Please make your instructor aware of any documented disability you may have so that she may assist in these accommodations.
Spring
2012 Academic Calendar—Key Dates
January 17 Spring 2012 semester classes begin
February 12 Last day to withdraw from 16-week courses and have course dropped from
record
February 12 Last day to change to audit for 16-week courses
February 19 Incomplete (I) grades from fall 2011 semester for which faculty have not
submitted
final grades will become an "F" after this date.
February 20 Presidents' Day holiday, College closed.
March 11 Last day to withdraw with a "W" from 16-week courses; Students will receive
a grade
in all courses in which they are enrolled after March 11.
March 12 – 18 Spring recess
May 10, 11 Evaluation Days†
May 11 Last day of student attendance
ALL STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COURSE GUIDELINES, AS SET FORTH IN THIS SYLLABUS. PLEASE REVIEW THE SYLLABUS, ON A REGULAR BASIS.