Honors Courses Spring 2005
HN 200 01: Charlie Chaplin
Flood, Royce
U, 2
T 3-5
Most film historians and critics agree that the outstanding genius during the first century of cinema was Charles Chaplin. This course will examine Chaplin's life and career, his film making techniques, and the public's response to his productions. We will have the opportunity to view several of Chaplin's short works and most of his feature length films. Students will respond to these works through class discussion and papers.
HN200 02: Intolerable Cruelties: The Films of Joel & Ethan Coen
Felice, Frank
U, 2
R 5-7
Fargo. O Brother Where Art Thou? Raising Arizona. Blood Simple. This course will investigate the nature of storytelling, adaptation of genre, myth, narrative, specific imagery and use of tropes in the works by the Coen brothers. Some work employing semiology and reader/writer relationships will be used to help decode the undecodable it will also be helpful if the students attending this course have a healthy sense of the absurd and a basic knowledge of film genres and their history.
HN200 50: Shakespeare's Tragic Generals and the Women Who Love Them
Walsh, William
U, 2
M 4-6
This course proposes to examine themes of leadership, the network of relationships that support it, and the nature of its failure in four Shakespearean tragedies: Macbeth, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus. We will explore the destructive appeal of power, ambition, love, violence in these plays. Starring Colin Farrell.
HN200 51: Chinua Achebe
Meyer, Adam
U, 2
W 6-7.45
Chinua Achebe was one of the founders of African literature over thirty years ago. His accomplishments however, have not been limited to Africa. He is considered to be one of the best novelists writing in the English language. Achebe embraces in his writing the idea at the heart of the African oral tradition: that "art is, and always was, at the service of man. Our ancestors created their myths and told their stories for a human purpose." For this reason, Achebe believes that "any good story, any good novel, should have a message, should have a purpose. This course will be an exploration of the world of art that is Achebe's writing. It will study how Achebe masterfully and uniquely negotiates a position in the English language and the African context, exploring mostly his fiction, some non fiction, and theory. Specific topics will include Achebe's use of narrative position, oral tradition, characterization, and representation of socio cultural phenomena.
HN300 01: Ethical Considerations in Abortion
Kennedy, Lawrence
U, 2
W 2.35-4.15
Ethical Considerations in Abortion is a two hour non-theological course considering foundations of morals and ethics and how they may apply to the issue of abortion. Pertinent cultural, practical and historical aspects of abortion will be discussed.
HN300 02: Clash of Civilizations
Dixon, Marshall
U, 2
MW 10-10.50
A tour of major cities shows the world converging on a public culture of the multi-national corporations mixed with liberal democracy, as proclaimed in Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History. On a larger scale we see tension and violence along the fault lines between Samuel Huntington’s clashing civilizations tending toward the global turmoil predicted by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Welcome to the 21st century.
HN300 04: Images of Childhood
Shelley, Ena
U, 2
T 12:30-2:30
The course will focus on the myths and realities of childhood over the last two hundred years in three cultures (American, Chinese, and Italian). The value of children in society, their rights and their roles, and the political dynamics that have impacted them will be examined.
HN300 05: Culture and Power: The Search for Freedom
Menendez, Antonio
U, 2
TR 1-2
This course will study how relationships of power affect everyday life by addressing the question of freedom and the diversity of human life. We will draw on the works of Friedrich Nietszche, Jean Paul Sartre, Henri Lefevbre, Gilles Deleuze and Michel Foucault.
HN300 07: Females in Film: A Psychological Analysis
Morris, Kate
U, 2
TR 11-12
Students in this class will use classic and modern psychological approaches to understand how film portrayals of women create, enhance, and maintain societal conceptualizations of women's traits, roles, behaviors, and self conceptions. Course activities will include learning about relevant psychological theories and findings, viewing a variety of films, and using a psychological perspective to analyze the films. Several creative projects will also be required.
HN300 50: Hands-On Spirituality
Saffire, Paula
U, 2
M 6-8:30
A hands-on exploration of spiritual practices that involve the body. Practices will include: dervish whirling, tai chi, hatha yoga, walking mediation, foot washing, Thai medicinal massage, and mandala drawing. This is a spiritual lab course. Experience comes first; readings are for the sake of enhancing experience.
Requirements:
- open-mindedness, respect for others,
- a desire for experience,
- some self-discipline, and
- some courage.
Consult your instructor if you have (a) and (b) and want to ask about (c) and (d). Some information about the course will be posted on the door of JD374D. Please read before your sign up.
HN300 51: Using Conflict Creatively
Valencic, Karen Sue
U, 2
T 5-7
“Conflict is the spark that lights the fire of invention and creativity,” is the essence of this program. The curriculum is practical and experiential. Concepts from eastern martial arts are combined with traditional western methods and science to create a high impact course. The curriculum incorporates the participants’ challenges for examples. The teaching style includes visual demonstrations, interactive exercises, light physical movement, and lecture. All learning styles are addresses in the program, making it ideal for retention for all types of learners. Enhanced leadership skills and the ability to cope with change are natural by-products of this program.
HN300 52: Design, Ecology, & Community
Miller, Samuel
U, 2
R 7-8:45
The course will study the creative aspects of design, the principles or ecosystems and how individuals and communities can benefit from connecting this knowledge across disciplines and, more broadly, possibilities for intervention in the local community based on the fusion of ecology and design. The first part of the course will be devoted to presenting design concepts, ideas, and activities. Following the excursion into design, we will look at ecology and the principles of ecosystems. The last segment of the course would apply the principles of design and ecology to the topic of community. Anticipate guest lecturers from each area of study and a lively exchange of ideas.