CLASS READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Class #1: Monday, August 29
Introduction to course; discussion of poems widely circulated after 9/11: Emily Dickinson, “After great pain…”; Adam Zagajewski “Try to Praise the Mutilated World”; W.H. Auden, “September 1, 1939” [in Poems]
Class #2: Wednesday, August 31
Continuing discussion of W.H. Auden, “September 1, 1939”; Adrienne Rich, “North American Time”; Chapters 5 & 6 from George Dickie’s Introduction to Aesthetics: Dickie 5 & 6 ; Short Assignment: outline and assess arguments in Dickie.
Thursday, September 1: Meet the artist at MHC: documentary film makers
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Monday, September 5 [No class: college closed]
Class #3: Wednesday, September 7
Selections from Chapters 4 & 5 from Noël Caroll’s Philosophy of Art: Carroll 4 & 5; Missing Pages
Short Assignment: outline and assess arguments in Caroll.
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Class #4: Monday, September 12
Walt Whitman, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”; close reading essay on Whitman; selection from Dennis Duttom, The Art Instinct: The Art Instinct Short assignment TBA.
Class #5: Wednesday, September 14
Read background on sonnets by Nelson Miller: Sonnet Stuff Read the following sonnets by Shakespeare: 30 (“When to the sessions of sweet silent thought”), 55 (“Not marble, nor the gilded monuments”), 73 (“That time of year thou mayst in me behold”), 116 (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds”), 130 (“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”), 138 (“When my loves swears that she is made of truth”); read John Donne’s sonnet “Batter my heart, three-personed God.” Sonnets for Honors
For help with Shakespeare, go to: http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/
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Class #6: Monday, September 19
Continued discussion of sonnets.
Class #7: Wednesday, September 21
James Merrill: “The Broken Home,” “Matinées,” “The Ring Cycle” (these are in the big packet of poems you received earlier in the class–also available under “poems” when you pull down the menu for the schedule of class readings).
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Class #8: Monday, September 26
Short paper on sonnets: Honors Paper Assignment
Re-read Merrill poems from last class. Read Opera for Dummies, Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2 (up to page 21), and Chapter 4 (pages 1–21, 39–52). Bring Opera for Dummies text to class.
Wednesday, September 28 [No class scheduled: Rosh Hoshanah begins at sunset]
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Class #9: Monday, October 3 Age of Innocence. Read all of Book One (the first eighteen chapters, up to page 109). Possible quiz on the reading. Technology presentation by Scott.
Class #10: Wednesday, October 5 Age of Innocence. Read Chapters nineteen to twenty-five, up to page 155. Possible quiz on the reading.
Possible visit to the Whitney Museum for real/surreal exhibition (exhibition opens on October 6)
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Monday, October 10 [No class, college closed] Take photo today or October 11
Class #11: Wednesday, October 12 [Opera]
Finish reading Age of Innocence. Possible quiz on the reading.
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Class #12: Monday, October 17
The Barber of Seville (play); Opera for Dummies, Chapter 5 (pages 55–72). The play can be found in The Figaro Trilogy.
Class #13: Wednesday, October 19
The Marriage of Figaro (play). The play can be found in The Figaro Trilogy.
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Class #14: Monday, October 24 [Opera]; Opera for Dummies, Chapters 10 and 11
Short Paper/Technology Assignment due (details TBA)
Class #15: Wednesday, October 26 [Opera]
Trip to Metropolitan Opera to see Rossini’s The Barber of Seville on October 26
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Class #16: Monday, October 31 Shakespeare, Love’s Labor’s Lost
Class #17: Wednesday, November 2 Shakespeare, Love’s Labor’s Lost
Trip to see Love’s Labor’s Lost during the weekend of November 4-6.
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Class #18: Monday, November 7
Technology day with Scott; cartoon and graphic art.
Class #19: Wednesday, November 9
Article on aesthetic evaluation; introduction to photography.
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Class #20: Monday, November 14
Play review due (revise your review of the Shakespeare play)
Read material on photography (under “Photography”); look at photos under “On Photography,” especially the photos from the book The Photographer’s Eye. Be prepared to identify five photos that you believe are good art and to explain why.
Class #21: Wednesday, November 16 [graphic novel]
Class on graphic novel, Stop Remembering to Forget. Read at least the first half of the novel (through page 109).
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Class #22: Monday, November 21 [visual arts]
Revision of audio-visual assignment due.
Finish reading graphic novel, Stop Remembering to Forget.
[Some of this class will be dedicated to the music in the concert on Tuesday.]
November 22: trip to Lincoln Center for symphony concert
Class #23: Wednesday, November 23 [Wednesday before Thanksgiving]
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Class #24: Monday, November 28
Review of Photography exhibit due.
Read Hopper book.
Class #25: Wednesday, November 30 [Film]
Review of Real/Surreal exhibit due.
Photo Show: Sunday, December 4 at MHC
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Class #26: Monday, December 5 [Film]
Written version of final project due.
Class #27: Wednesday, December 7 [Film]
Class #28: Monday, December 12 [Film]
Final project due.