NVCC COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE CONTENT SUMMARY
HUM 201 - SURVEY OF WESTERN CULTURE I (3 CR.)
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Studies thought, values, and arts of Western culture, integrating major developments in art, architecture, literature, music, and philosophy. Covers the following periods: Ancient and Classical, Early Christian and Byzantine, Medieval, and Early Renaissance. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

Introduces the student to western culture through study of selected masterworks in literature, philosophy, music and the arts from Antiquity to the Early Renaissance.

Provides the student with the necessary critical vocabulary and experience on which to construct aesthetic, intellectual, and moral value judgments about Western culture in relation to its historic developments and traditions.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

General college entrance competencies.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the completion of this course, the student will have engaged in the following exercises with competence to:

    A.  Study Western cultural expression
    B.  Consider shaping influences
    C.  Trace recurrent patterns and themes
    D.  Examine major developments in Western art, architecture, music, literature, and philosophy
MAJOR TOPICS TO BE INCLUDED
    A.  Beginnings of Western culture (the instructor may choose where to begin and what to cover from among the following periods)
    1.  Paleolithic and Neolithic
    2.  Mesopotamian
    3.  Egyptian
    4.  Hebraic
    5.  Aegean
    B.  Fifth Century Athens in the Golden Age
    1.  its art
    2.  architecture
    3.  drama
    4.  philosophy

    C.  Hellenistic contributions in the arts
    D.  The post-Aristotelian philosophies of Stoicism, Epicureanism, Skepticism and Cynicism
    E.  Roman hegemony in the world of politics, art, architecture and literature
    F.  Early Christian and Byzantine transformations of classical forms and values
    G.  Medieval achievements in architecture and the arts in intellectual and spiritual thought, and in literature and music
    H.  Early Renaissance humanism in the masterpieces of the age in the various disciplines

EXTRA TOPICS (optional)

Attendance at area museums, artistic performances, and special exhibitions which have relevance to the material under study.

Revised 10/99


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