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1.2: Introduction to Humanities Overview

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    88996
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    This course is an introductory survey of the genres and themes of the humanities. Readings, lectures, and class discussions will focus on genres such as music, the visual arts, drama, literature, and philosophy. As themes, the ideas of freedom, love, happiness, death, nature, and myth may be explored from a western and non-western point of view.

    Goal Area: Humanities and Fine Arts

    To expand students’ knowledge of the human condition and human cultures, especially in relation to behavior, ideas and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought. Through study in disciplines such as literature, philosophy and the fine arts, students will engage in critical analysis, form aesthetic judgments and develop an appreciation of the arts and humanities as fundamental to the health and survival of any society. Students should have experiences in both the arts and humanities.

    Take some time in a notebook or in a digital document, write down some answers to these questions. As you do, think about your experiences and thoughts. Write down some examples of humanity. You’ll return back to these questions throughout the course, so make sure you save them and add to them as we progress though the class.

    What do you know about the human condition and human cultures?

    What do you want to know about the human condition and human cultures?

    What are the behaviors, ideas and values expressed in works of human imagination and thought?

    Is it important to engage in critical analysis and form aesthetic judgments about the arts?

    How do we develop an appreciation of the arts and humanities as fundamental to the health and survival of any society?

    Goal Area: Global Perspective

    To increase students’ understanding of the growing interdependence of nations and peoples and develop their ability to apply a comparative perspective to cross-cultural social, economic and political experiences.

    What do cultures around the world contribute to humanity?

    What do we see that comes from where?

    How can I expand what I value?

    What makes these contributions strong?

    Essential Questions:

    This course is organized around questions instead of answers. I hope, as you answer these questions, you will learn to think critically and your learning will be deep. Primarily, in this class you’ll need to rely on your curiosity. Being curious will be important.

    Reflective Learning Journal

    Each week as you progress through the lessons, take notes. As you read, listen, and talk about the stuff you’re learning, write down what you’re learning and thinking. You can use these notes to write a reflective learning journal at the end of each week. You might want to take notes on a class discussion as well. You might also be loading a Prezi, a photo of your own art, a video, an essay, or a podcast in this blog.

    The reflective journal summarizes the week and should tell about the tasks, learning experiences, activities and opportunities you have been involved in during the week of the report.

    Here are directions for creating the reflective learning journal as a blog posting.

    Blog Instructions

    1. If you do not have a gmail account, open an account at: http://mail.google.com/
    2. Go to http://www.blogger.com
    3. Click on "Create Your Blog Now"
    4. Click "Continue" and sign in with your gmail account and password
    5. Give your blog an appropriate title and a Web address (URL)
    6. Click "Continue"
    7. Choose a template (How do you want the background of the blog to look?)
    8. Click "Start Posting"
    9. Type in an appropriate title and text; add an appropriate image and Web link with the posting.
    10. To add a Web link, highlight the text or URL that you want to be the link then click on the icon with the green globe or the word “Link” and type or paste in an appropriate link. Click “OK” then publish the post.
    11. Click on the “Add Image” icon on the menu; browse and locate an image file (or find an image on the Web); choose a layout then click on “Upload Image”
    12. Click on “View Blog” to see what your posting looks like; if you wish to edit, click on “Customize” or “Dashboard” to access the Settings option or Posting option to edit posts
    13. To edit posts or add a new post to your blog, type in your blog address (URL) and login to your account; click on Dashboard link or New Post link or then create a new post (or edit/update an older post) with text, image, and link.
    14. Click on “View Blog” to see what your posting looks like; if you wish to edit, click on “Customize” or “Dashboard” to access the Settings option or Posting option to edit posts
    15. You can find tutorials for wordpress or blogger.com on youtube.com such as: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULIUhJSKViE&feature=related

    * How to Find and Save Images from the Web

    1. Go to Google.com
    2. Type in the relevant term
    3. Click on “Images” at the top left corner to do an image search
    4. Under Tools, select “Usage Rights” and “Labeled for Reuse”.
    5. After you find an appropriate image, click on the image, then click on “See full size image”
    6. Place the cursor on the image then right click – a menu box will appear
    7. From the menu box, choose the option “Save Image As…”
    8. Save the image to your desktop or to a disk
    9. If your image needs to be cropped or made smaller, there are free tools on the Web such as: http://www.pixlr.com/editor/
    10. Now the image is ready for you to upload to your blog.

    Reflective Journal (30 points)

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    Self-Reflection Questions for Learning

    What were some of the most interesting discoveries I made? About myself? About others?

    What were some of my most challenging moments and what made them so?

    What were some of my most powerful learning moments and what made them so?

    What is the most important thing I learned personally?

    What most got in the way of my progress, if anything?

    What did I learn were my greatest strengths? My biggest areas for improvement?

    What moments was I most proud of my efforts?

    What could I do differently the next time?

    What's the one thing about myself above all others I would like to work to improve?

    How will I use what I've learned in the future?

    Humanities Sites

    Description of Humanities on Wikipedia: https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanities

    Outline of the Humanities from Wikipedia: https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_the_humanities

    Minnesota Humanities Center: https://mnhum.org/

    What are the Humanities and Why are they important? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytR3wxwVBd0

    Lumen Learning Introduction to Humanities: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/worldcivilization1/

    Chris Abani: On Humanity

    Chris Abani tells stories of people: People standing up to soldiers. People being compassionate. People being human and reclaiming their humanity. It's "ubuntu," he says: the only way for me to be human is for you to reflect my humanity back at me.


    This page titled 1.2: Introduction to Humanities Overview is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lori-Beth Larsen via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.