Course Description:

Exploring the Fine Arts, a course in the humanities, is designed for the undergraduate to fulfill a requirement in literary and aesthetic studies. It is seen as a course that strongly connects with other courses in the humanities: history, philosophy, and literature.

Exploring the Fine Arts studies the major cultural achievements and significant artistic works that have shaped Western culture. The approach to this course is to study the arts in an historical context beginning with the earliest artistic expressions of ancient societies and extending to the twentieth century. The major concentration of the arts should be the visual arts and music.

The course also includes analysis and evaluation of the arts. The best context of such analysis is to relate the material in the course to the experience of musical and visual arts exhibits.

1. To discuss the historic development that is the context of the study of the arts:

• define countries, dates, significant figures and events of the historical context
• discuss the observable effects/results of the events of history on the records/expressions of that history.

1. To classify the significant characteristics of the arts of each era/period:

• describe the descriptive elements and structures
• discuss how the characteristics of the visual arts and music as expressive of the era/period, the relationship to the historic development.

1. To illustrate the relationship to other areas of study within the historical context and discuss the relationship between art and philosophy and history.
2. To analyze and evaluate the performance of the arts:

• Appraise the impact of live performance of the arts
• Judge the quality of the arts and the performance of the arts

1. To demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills in the context of Exploring the Fine Arts.
2. To prepare and analyze an approved topic, through an in-depth inquiry of the topic. (Independent Study Component)

Lawrence Cunningham and John Reich (editors), Culture and Values, 4^th edition, Harcourt Brace, 1997.

Course Content:

August 25 The Beginnings of Civilization and Early Greece

Sept. 1 Classical Greece and the Hellenistic Period

Sept. 8 The Roman Legacy

Sept. 15 Jerusalem and Early Christianity and Byzantium and the Rise of Islam

Sept. 22 Charlemagne and the Rise of Medieval Culture

Sept. 29 High Middle Ages: the Search for Synthesis

October 6                             MID-TERM EXAM

The Fourteenth Century: A Time of Transition

October 13 The Early Renaissance

October 20 The High Renaissance in Italy

October 27 The Renaissance in the North

November 3 The Baroque World

November 10 The Eighteenth Century: From Rococo to Revolution

November 17 The Romantic Era

November 24                     TERM PAPER DUE

Toward the Modern Era: 1870-1914

December 1 Between the World Wars and the Contemporary Contour

December 8                     FINAL EXAM

I look forward to this semester and expect that you will do your part to make this a rewarding experience for you and the rest of your class. Together, we will have a fruitful journey to better understanding the fine arts for our personal and professional lives.

Mid-term Exam 25%

Research Project 25%

Final Exam 50%

(Class participation can provide bonus points)

Research Project:

Each student will write a 12-page research paper. This paper will discuss an aspect of the fine arts. The topic will be approved prior to starting the project.

• Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. All students are encouraged to attend all classes.
• All students will take exams on the designated date. The Independent Study Project will also be expected on the due date. Exceptions: Y2K causes a meltdown with your computer, an asteroid or comet collides with the earth and delays your getting to class or finishing your Independent Study Project. If these or some other apocalyptic event occurs in your life, call me.

Plagiarism has no place in your research project. No credit will be given if plagiarism is present. Cheating on a test will also result in not receiving any credit for the exam.

I look forward to teaching this class. If you need anything or have any problem, the following information will provide you with access to assistance. Please feel free to contact me whenever necessary.