Description:

This course will acquaint students with the arts and ideas of the world's major civilizations, from antiquity through the Renaissance. The approach will be interdisciplinary, covering the artistic values embodied in painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, music and dance as they have emerged out of their historical contexts. In addition to providing the fundamental principles, methodologies and theories used in the study of the humanities, the course aims to enhance students' understanding of the contemporary world. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the artistic techniques and historical importance of selected works of art within their various cultural milieux.
2. Recognize and knowledgeably discuss the cultural values (e.g., social, political, religious) that are reflected in these works.
3. Describe and compare in writing (250 words or more) the cultural values of selected Western and non-Western civilizations as revealed through their visual and literary arts.
4. Analyze in a 300-word or longer critical essay the elements, composition, historical milieux and cultural values of a selected work of art.
5. Apply the methodologies and principles of historical and genre criticism for studying the humanities.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Introduction to Course
   A. Describe the cultural role of the Artist and the Artform.
   B. Discuss the relationship between Form and Content in art.
   C. Identify the various genres of art and their fundamental
characteristics.

II. Prehistoric Cultures
   A. Describe the characteristics of human culture.
   B. Describe the characteristics of Paleolithic culture.
   C. Describe the characteristics of Neolithic culture.
   D. Discuss the possible religious and social values of these cultures
as reflected in their visual arts.

III. Mesopotamian Civilizations
   A. Identify the visual and literary arts of the various Mesopotamian
cultures.
   B. Explain the religious and social values of these cultures as
reflected in their visual and literary arts.

IV. Ancient Egypt
   A. Identify and describe the visual and literary arts of the Old
Kingdom.
   B. Identify and describe the visual and literary arts of the New
Kingdom.
   C. Explain the religious and social values of these Kingdoms as
reflected in their visual and literary arts.

V. Aegean Culture and the Rise of Ancient Greece
   A. Identify the visual and literary arts of the various Aegean
civilizations.
   B. Identify the visual arts of the various periods of Mycenaean
culture.
   C. Recognize and discuss the mythology, poetry and philosophy of
Mycenaean culture.
   D. Explain the religious and social values of Mycenaean culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

VI. Classical and Hellenistic Greece
   A. Describe the characteristics of Classical culture in Greece.
   B. Identify and discuss the visual and literary arts of Classical
Greece.
   C. Discuss the origins and purposes of the classical Greek drama.
   D. Discuss and compare the philosophic traditions of Socrates, Plato
and Aristotle.
   E. Explain the religious and social values of Classical Greece as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.
   F. Describe the characteristics of Hellenistic culture in Greece and
the Mediterranean.
   G. Identify and discuss the visual and literary arts of Hellenistic
culture.
   H. Explain the religious and social values of Hellenistic culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.
 
VII. Roman Culture
   A. Identify the visual artifacts of Etruscan culture.
   B. Discuss the sociopolitical character of Republican Rome.
   C. Identify and discuss the visual and literary arts of Republican
Rome.
   D. Discuss the sociopolitical character of Imperial Rome.
   E. Identify and discuss the visual and literary arts of Imperial Rome.
   F. Explain the religious and social values of Roman culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

VIII. Judaism and the Rise of Christianity
   A. Discuss the origins and development of the Hebrew culture.
   B. Identify the fundamental doctrines of Judaism.
   C. Identify and discuss the Hebrew scriptures as history, myth and
art.
   D. Discuss the religious and social values of Judaism as reflected in
its literary art.
   E. Discuss the message of Jesus of Nazareth in the context of first
century Judaism.
   F. Discuss the development and growth of the early Christian church.
   G. Identify examples and characteristics of early Christian visual
arts.
   H. Identify and discuss the development of the Christian New Testament
scriptures.
   I. Explain the religious and social values of early Christian culture
as reflected in its visual and literary arts.
   J. Discuss the characteristics of fourth century systematic Christian
theology.

IX. Byzantine Civilization
   A. Describe the characteristics of Byzantine Christian culture.
   B. Identify the differences between the Western church and the Eastern
church.
   C. Identify examples and characteristics of Byzantine visual arts.
   D. Explain the religious and social values of Byzantine culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

X. Early Islamic Civilization
   A. Identify the fundamental religious and sociopolitical
characteristics of Islam.
   B. Identify examples and characteristics of Islamic visual and literary
arts.
   C. Explain the religious and social values of early Islamic culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

XI. Early Indian Culture
   A. Describe the fundamental doctrines and characteristics of Hinduism.
   B. Identify and discuss the content of the Hindu literary classics.
   C. Describe the development, doctrines and characteristics of
Buddhism.
   D. Discuss Buddhism as religious and social critique of Hindu culture.
   E. Identify examples and characteristics of Hindu visual and literary
arts.
   F. Identify examples and characteristics of Buddhist visual and
literary arts.
   G. Explain the religious and social values of early Indian culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

XII. Early Chinese Culture
   A. Describe the fundamental doctrines and characteristics of
Confucianism.
   B. Describe the fundamental doctrines and characteristics of Taoism.
   C. Identify examples of early Chinese visual and literary arts from its
major dynasties.
   D. Explain the religious and social values of early Chinese culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

XIII. Early Japanese Culture
   A. Describe the fundamental doctrines and characteristics of Shinto.
   B. Describe the fundamental doctrines and characteristics of Zen
Buddhism.
   C. Identify examples of early Japanese visual and literary arts from
its major periods.
   D. Explain the religious and social values of early Japanese culture as
reflected in its  visual and literary arts.

XIV. Pre-European Cultures of the Americas
   A. Identify examples of visual and literary art from Mesoamerican,
Peruvian and North American civilizations.
   B. Explain the religious and social values of these civilizations as
reflected in their visual and literary art.
   C. Discuss the diverse cultural effects of European presence and
conquest upon these civilizations.

XV. Early Medieval Culture and the Romanesque
   A. Describe the fundamental characteristics of the Germanic cultures.
   B. Identify examples and characteristics of Germanic visual and
literary arts.
   C. Describe the Germanic influences on early medieval European
culture.
   D. Explain the cultural significance of the Carolingian Renaissance.
   E. Explain the development of Monasticism in medieval Europe.
   F. Discuss the intentions and the results of the Crusades.
   G. Explain the relationship between pilgrimage, relics and the church.
   H. Explain the origins, development and elements of the Romanesque
church.
   I. Identify examples and characteristics of early medieval visual and
literary arts.
   J. Explain the religious and social values of early medieval culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

XVI. Late Medieval Culture and the Gothic
   A. Explain the origins, development and elements of the Gothic
cathedral.
   B. Identify examples and characteristics of late medieval visual and
literary arts.
   C. Discuss the origins and development of Scholasticism.
   D. Explain the late medieval transition from the sacred to the secular
in visual arts, literature, music and intellectual inquiry.
   E. Explain the religious and social values of late medieval culture as
reflected in its visual and literary arts.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Student grades will be based on a minimum of three examinations which
will constitute 50% to 75% of the final grade. In addition to these
examinations, 20% to 30% of the final grade will consist of other grading
methods which may include supplemental examinations, writing assignments,
research papers, class presentations, or field trips, and must include the
critical essay. The remaining percentage will be left to the instructor’s
discretion for such items as attendance, participation in class discussion
and the like.

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.