Syllabus. Instructor Contact: Course Information: HUM 2230: Humanistic Traditions II. Dr. Anthony Crisafi

Transcription

1 HUM 2230: Humanistic Traditions II Dr. Anthony Crisafi Syllabus In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for finding himself. If he persists in shifting his responsibility to somebody else, he fails to find out the meaning of his own existence. --Thomas Merton NOTE: Click here to download a PDF version of this Syllabus! Instructor Contact: Instructor Office PSY 232 Online Office Hours Dr. Anthony Crisafi MW: 5 p.m. 6 p.m. Phone Anthony.Crisafi@ucf.edu Course Information: Course Name Credit Hours 3 Semester/Year Spring 2014 Location HUM 2210 Humanistic Traditions I Online

2 Meeting Times Online: MW: 5 p.m. 6 p.m. Course Description: Humanistic Tradition II is an interdisciplinary, multicultural study of the arts and sciences contributed by diverse human traditions to world civilization. Focus is on then Renaissance up to the Contemporary time. Course Objectives: Analyze and discuss meanings of artworks, performances, and texts in diverse aesthetic, historical, and cultural contexts. Identify the cultural and historical influences of Humanistic thought through the reading of primary source material. Formulate a theory of the Humanistic worldview as represented in the arts, philosophy, literature, and religions of the time and culture. These objectives will be accomplished through readings, discussions, quizzes, and written assignments. Required Text: Janetta Rebold Benton & Robert J. DiYanni: Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities, Combined Volume, 4/E

3 Supplemental texts: Modules with Powerpoint Presentations Various Websites as linked in each week's lesson. Evaluation and Grading Assignments: 1. Students must write a minimum of pages of competent college writing in this course. This will be accomplished through a series of discussion forum postings. These discussion forum postings will consist of the student s reactions and analyses to the readings we have done throughout the term. You will also be responsible for responding to at least one other student's posting for each discussion forum. These postings will be graded for originality and strength of analysis, organization, structure, and grammar and syntax. Typically, a good discussion posting will read something like this: Throughout the Confessions, Augustine is recounting his life going through many different stages and events of his life ultimately leading up to his complete conversion. Augustine s conversion, however, does not happen all at the one moment when he while sitting under a fig tree crying hears a voice repeat to him Take up and read; Take up and read and which upon reading had all the darkness of doubt vanished away leading to his sudden conversion (St. Augustine, bk. 8). Rather, Augustine s conversion is an ongoing process, as can be seen in his recollections of how he was slowly guided by God throughout his life leading up to the final piece of the puzzle the voice telling him to Take up and read which allowed him to experience what seems to be a singular moment of instant conversion. It is Augustine s changing state of mind throughout his life, as can be seen in the experiences he tells us as readers about that ultimately lead to his acceptance of Christianity and his conversion. As he goes through his different life stages, Augustine very importantly includes in his recount his state of mind at particular moments in his life which through their development help him later on to come to God. Augustine begins the Confessions with recollections, both from his own memory and the memory of others such as his mother or nanny, of his childhood. At this point in the Confessions Augustine s state of mind is one of confusion which could be caused by the deferral of his baptism when he was

4 sick and for which he asks I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? (St. Augustine, bk. 1) As Augustine continues to contemplate on the deferral of his baptism, he comes to the conclusion that it was deferred very wisely by his mother because if he were baptized at that point in his life he would still have to face many temptations later on and having been baptized so early would not be forgiven as easily as if he waited until later on in life to be baptized and forgiven of his sins. Indeed, throughout not only his childhood but other stages in his life the temptations Augustine faced as he sought for pleasures, sublimities, [and] truths caused him to fall headlong into sorrows, confusions, [and] errors (St. Augustine, bk.1). As Augustine goes on he tells of his adolescence and his most pressing care throughout this time in his life being his studies and the satisfaction of his bodily or carnal desires. It is in this period of time that Augustine came across a book written by Cicero called Hortensius that he started to somewhat change because as Augustine put it this book altered my prayers to Thyself O Lord; and made me have other purposes and desires (St. Augustine, bk.3). At this point in his life Augustine delves into the Bible, but seeing it only as a simple text even children could understand did not think much of it and his state of mind changed to one of defiance of the teachings of Christianity and which led him to join the Manichees. Looking back at this point in time, Augustine recalls that I in my blindness, censured the holy Fathers and These things I being ignorant of, scoffed at those Thy holy servants and prophets (St. Augustine, bk. 3). After this Augustine tells of another event in his life which once again causes his state of mind to change and develop towards acceptance of the teachings of Christianity. The event is that of his friend s illness, baptism, recovery, and then death. Augustine s friend upon falling ill and unconscious is baptized. Augustine, however, being a Manichee views the baptism as pointless For long, sore sick of a fever, he lay senseless in a death-sweat; and his recovery being despaired of, he was baptised, unknowing; myself meanwhile little regarding, and presuming that his soul would retain rather what it had received of me, not what was wrought on his unconscious body (St. Augustine, bk. 4). However, when his friend somewhat recovered and Augustine essentially tried to joke about his being baptized, his friend did not joke back but asked Augustine to not joke on the matter. Not long after his friend died and in order to escape the grief Augustine left for Carthage where he met Faustus and their encounter would help change Augustine s

5 mind again. Faustus was a Manichee bishop which Augustine hoped would help answers some questions and doubts that Augustine had. However, upon learning that Faustus could not answer his questions, Augustine began to doubt the Manichee s teachings, and this doubt lead him to a state of mind of disbelief which further led Augustine to seek out different things to find some truth and answers. It is at this point that under the advice of friends Augustine leaves for Rome and comes across Bishop Ambrose, who through his teachings helps Augustine see not only Christianity s teachings in a different light but the Bible as well. Augustine starts to turn towards Christianity but is still unable to let go of some of his carnal desires until his moment of inspiration while crying under a fig tree he hears a voice and reads a passage that helps him let go of the carnal desires and become completely converted. Thus, Augustine s conversion did not just happen in one instant but was accumulating throughout his life, developed by the events that took place, leading him to acceptance and finally to a complete conversion. Works Cited St. Augustine. "The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Saint Augustine. Search etext, Read Online, Study, Discuss.." The Literature Network: Online classic literature, poems, and quotes. Essays & Summaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May < A typically good discussion posting response will be at least two paragraphs in length and will look something like this: You have provided some excellent points regarding Augustine s infancy and childhood that explains why he found them so important. In his infancy, like you explained, Augustine s journey with sin began, crying and throwing tantrums in order to acquire things. Although, he does not recognize this at first, mostly due to ignorance, he does eventually draw that conclusion as he grows older. This helps him realize that as an infant and/or child he abused the very God that gave him life and as a result caused him to stray from Christianity. However, as a man he begins a path of self-examination. Questioning his actions, his youth, and his sins, all in order to confirm what he did wrong in his life so he could take the right steps to correct them. By the end of this reflection,

6 we can see that Augustine has a better comprehension of sin, utilizing this knowledge to avert it and remain closer to God. I think you were correct about Augustine wanting to atone for his childhood sins. Why else would he thoroughly analyze them? Also, the fact that you utilized the example from book 3 to describe this, tied in well with this assertion. He is definitely questioning his actions and why he committed them. I wish there were other examples from the book that described his teenager years and how it affected him. But overall the example given summarized your conclusion on how easily Augustine strayed from God and then found him later in life. 2. Quizzes: There will be a series of exams throughout the term, and they will test the student s knowledge of the subjects through multiple choice and identification. Exams will be administered online through Webcourses. 3. Final Exam: There will be a comprehensive final exam administered during the Final Exam period, the dates of which are Wednesday, April 29, Tuesday, May 05, 2015 Grading Procedures: Assignment Points as Percentage of Grade Discussions 50% Quizzes 30% Final Exam 20% Total 100% Grading Scale: A % C 74-76% A % C % B % D % B 84-86% D 64-66% B % D % C % F 0-59% Attendance Policy: As of Fall 2014, all faculty members are required to document students' academic activity at the beginning of each course. In order to document that you began this course, please complete the specified academic activity by the end of the first week of classes, or as soon as possible after

7 adding the course, but no later than Friday, January 16. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid. The specific academic activity that will satisfy this requirement is a short introductory essay. Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for one person that will not apply to everyone. Disability Statement: The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) , TTY/TDD only phone (407) , before requesting accommodations from the professor. Course Schedule: NOTE: Initial discussion postings are due by Sunday of the week assigned, while responses are due by the Tuesday immediately following the discussion. Check the individual Modules for complete due dates. Module Chapter 13: Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy Beginning Date 1/12 Monday Lecture Early Renaissance Wednesday Lecture High Renaissance Assignments Introductory Essay for Attendance Requirement, Due Friday, January 16. Chapter 13: Renaissance and 1/19 MLK, Jr. Day No Mannerism Chapter 13 Due

8 Mannerism in Italy Lecture Sunday, Jan 25 13, due Sunday, Jan 25 Chapter 14: Renaissance in Northern Europe Chapter 14: Renaissance in Northern Europe 1/26 2/2 Early Renaissance in Northern Europe High Renaissance in Northern Europe Early Renaissance in Northern Europe High Renaissance in Northern Europe Chapter 14, due Sunday, Feb 8 14, due Sunday, Feb 8 Chapter 15: The Baroque Chapter 15: The Baroque 2/9 2/16 The Baroque in Italy The Baroque Outside of Italy The Baroque in Italy The Baroque Outside of Italy Chapter 15, due Sunday, Feb 22 15, due Sunday, Feb 22 Chapter 16: Eighteenth Century 2/23 Enlightenment and Revolutions Rococco Chapter 16, due Sunday, March 1 16, due Sunday, March 1 Chapter 17: Romanticism and Realism 3/2 Romanticism Realism Discussion: Chapter 17, due Sunday, March 8 17, due Sunday, March 8 Spring Break: No classes or homework! 3/9 Spring Break Spring Break Chapter 18: Impressionism and Postimpressionism 3/16 Spring Break Impressionism Postimpressionism Discussion: Chapter 18, due Sunday, March 22

9 18, due Sunday, March 22 Chapter 19: Later Chinese Civilization and Chapter 20: Later Japanese Civilization Chapter 21: Later African and Latin America 3/23 3/30 Later Chinese Civilization Final Withdraw Date: Tuesday, March 24, :59 PM Modern Africa Later Japanese Civilization Modern Latin America Discussion: Chapters 19 & 20, due Sunday, March 29 s 19 & 20, due Sunday, March 29 Discussion: Chapters 21, due Sunday, April 5 s 21, due Sunday, April 5 Chapter 22: Early Twentieth Century 4/6 New Directions in Art The Great War and After Chapter 22, due Sunday, April 12 22, due Sunday, April 12 Chapter 23: Mid- Twentieth Century and Later 4/13 Mid Twentieth Century Pop Culture Discussion: Chapter 23, due Sunday, April 19 23, due Sunday, April 19 Chapter 24: Diversity in Contemporary 4/20 Life Diversity in the United States The Global Village Chapter 24, due Sunday, April 26 24, due Sunday, April 26 Final Exam Week: Wednesday, April 29, 4/ Tuesday, May 05, 2015 No Lecture! Final Exam Starts Wednesday, April 29 Final Exam Due Tuesday, May 05, 2015

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