CONTACT INFORMATION

Professor:        Donald Larsson              Office:  Armstrong Hall 301-L (facing the fountain)
Phone:             389-2368                       E-Mail: donald.larsson@mnsu.edu

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TEXTS (Note: Highlighted links will take you to the publishers' companion websites, if available:

Laurie Schneider Adams.  World Views: Topics in Non-Western Art
Hammond Historical World Atlas
Maynard Mack, ed.  The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces.  Expanded ed. (1 volume)
S.A. Nigosian.  World Religions: A Historical Approach.
Jeff Todd Titon, ed., Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World’s Peoples

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COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is founded on the following assumptions:

·         That forms of humanistic expression--through philosophy; religion; and the visual, literary, and performing arts--are not the exclusive province of European and American societies

·         That cultures around the world share in a common desire to define the human condition, and do so through philosophy; religion, and the visual, literary, and performing arts

·         That forms of humanistic expression, as well as the contents of that expression, change over time and across cultures to respond to the different circumstances of individual cultures

·         That the forms of humanistic expression, as well as their content, underscore the beliefs, values and experiences that both unite and divide cultures throughout history

·         That we cannot understand the social or economic or political or military role of a nation or culture without also understanding that culture's history and forms of cultural expression

·         That no citizen of an increasingly interdependent global society can afford to remain ignorant of the many facets of cultural expression that lie beyond the Western tradition

This course is intended as a complement to Humanities 150 and 151: The Western Humanities. In this class, we will attempt to survey the religions, philosophies and cultural expressions of societies beyond Europe and the Americas. Our particular emphasis will be on sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania/Pacific cultures, and Latin America. (Humanities 155, offered in the fall, covers cultures of the Middle East, India, China and Japan.)

These societies have cultural traditions that are hundreds or thousands of years old, and we will explore some of the ways in which those traditions have been expressed over the ages through religion, philosophy, literature, and the visual and performing arts. But all of these societies have also had to deal with the impact of the Western world—whether through slavery, colonialism, economic exploitation, or just through the spread of industrialization and an increasingly closely-linked global economy. So we will also look at ways by which these societies have expressed acceptance of, resistance to, or adaptation to these radical social changes. And we will see how thinkers, writers and artists in these societies have expressed the concerns, problems and divisions within their own cultures.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: THE STUDENT PORTFOLIO

Your grade for the semester will be based on a portfolio of materials that you will assemble over the weeks and submit at the end of the term. There will be one mid-term portfolio check that gives all of you and me a chance to check on and comment on your progress. A complete description of the portfolio follows, but briefly, you will assemble and collect together several different types of materials, each of which will be worth a certain number of points, for a total of 1000 points.  You may continually revise the materials you put into your portfolio during the semester until the Final Meeting date (May 12). It is the final portfolio itself that will be the basis for the final grade.

 PORTFOLIO APPEARANCE STANDARDS:

·         You must use a folder, binder, 3-ring notebook, or a similar means of collecting all your portfolio materials together throughout the semester.

·         The portfolio should not include items that are not relevant to this class.

·         Your name and "Global Humanities Portfolio" should be on the front cover of the portfolio.

·         You should have tabs or other means of keeping the different sections of the portfolio separate from each other.

·         All materials in the portfolio, except for the Definitions, must be typed or word processed.

·         Each entry in your portfolio should include your name, the date of the entry, and a title that indicates the type of entry.

·         Your final portfolio must include the comment sheets from the two mid-term Portfolio Reviews and Final Checklists that I will give you later in the semester.

PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES

 *Points will be assigned on the basis of how complete, accurate and insightful each item is, as well as for the quality of the presentation (i.e., it meets the assignment criteria, it is well-organized, neat, readable, etc.).

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PORTFOLIO EVALUATION STANDARDS

 APPEARANCE, FORMAT AND TIMELY COMPLETION (50 points)
The Portfolio must meet the Appearance Standards listed above.  Lack of appropriate organization, neatness, etc. can result in points being lost.  Before the two mid-term Portfolio Reviews and our final meeting, I will give you a checklist of materials that should be in your portfolio at that time.  Checklist 1 is worth 10 points, Checklist 2 is worth 15 points, and the Final Checklist is worth 25 points.  Missing materials can result in points being lost.

 PORTFOLIO SECTIONS:
A. Question of the Week (30 points, 2 per week)
Each Thursday at the end of class, I will collect a Question of  the Week from you.  The question must relate to something that we have read or discussed that week; otherwise, the subject matter is completely up to you.  I will post especially interesting questions on the class web site and may use them for further class discussion.  You may not submit a question if you missed class on that particular day, and you will lose the two points for that week.

A. Definitions (50 points, 10 per assignment)
During the semester, I will give you a list of terms or names relevant to the material we have been studying for that week.  You will choose 5 of those terms or names and define each one in class in your own words in a sentence or two, but you will be allowed to use books and notes.  I will then collect those terms and evaluate whether you would earn the full 10 points or less for those definitions.  I will return them to you the following week.  You may revise them as often as you like before submitting them in your final portfolio.

B. Weekly Response (20 points per week)
Each week, I will give you a discussion prompt regarding the material we have covered in class that week.  You may choose one of those questions (or create a question of your own) and respond to it in one to pages (250-500 words). You may draw upon resources (including each other) beyond class notes in forming your answer, but the wording and specific nature of the answer should be yours alone. Any wording, phrasing or borrowing of concepts from other sources without acknowledgement is plagiarism and will result in 0 points for that entry.  These discussions will be due on the Tuesday of the next week.  Assignment 15 will be due with your final portfolio on May 12.

C. In-Class Report Notes And Group Evaluation Sheet (200 points and 50 points, respectively)
Each of you will be responsible for one brief report on a work of literature, art, music, dance, philosophy, religion or another cultural product from a country or group in Africa, Oceania/Pacific, or Latin America.  The work can be traditional or modern, but it must be in an accessible format (book, CD, video, web site, etc.) that other people can refer to.
     You will be assigned to one of 5 interest research groups of students who will work together to identify potential topics for individual reports and resources on how to locate and evaluate those topics.  You may give your in-class report individually or with one or more of the other people in your group.  For the portfolio, you will turn in a set of notes for your report, as well as a self-evaluation on how you and the others in the group worked together.
     Your individual notes must indicate (when possible) the name or title of the work or resource, the author or artist who created it, when it was created, and a summary or description of it.  You must also indicate where you found that work or resource and how other students can gain access to it.  You should briefly discuss what you learned about the culture that we have not covered in class from discovering this work or resource.  This report can also be the basis for your final project.

D. Report on International Event (about 4 pages: 100 points total.)
Attend one of the events sponsored by a campus department, the International Student Office or the Cultural Diversity Program.  (See the list below.  You may also attend an event in the Twin Cities or at another location if you provide a copy of the program.)  Then write a report about what you saw, did, and learned at that event.  Indicate the name, date and place of the event, and who the artists or speakers or main participants were.  Attach any brochure or other material that is passed out. Explain how that activity relates to what we have learned in class about one or more particular cultures.

APPROVED INTERNATIONAL EVENTS (More to come!):

• Feb. 7—Latin Sounds Orchestra Concert, MSU

• Feb. 22-25: Annual Pan-African Student Leadership Conference, MSU

• April: Chicano-Latino Student Leadership Conference

• April 23: International Festival, East High School

 E. Final Project  (200 Points)
You may complete this assignment in one of several ways:

•  a written report (about 5-7 pages, plus notes)

• a pictorial essay, using prints of visual sources

•  a web site

In any of these cases, the project should deal with a religious, philosophical or literary text, a work of art, film, or other cultural product from one group or country in one of the cultures that we have been studying.

 Further guidelines for the Final Project will be available later.

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GENERAL CLASS POLICIES

Attendance:
Since much of this course is based on your participation and collaboration with each other, it is important for you to attend regularly.  If you know that you are likely to miss class on a particular day, please check for whatever work or assignment will be involved on that day.  If you unexpectedly miss a class, you are still responsible for all work required for your Portfolio, except that you will be docked the number of points for any Portfolio Review or Presentation Evaluation that you have missed.

Electronic Devices (cell phone, IPods, laptops, etc.):
Unless you have asked for and received specific permission to use an electronic device in class, you will have to turn off and put away any such devices before class starts each day.

Reading and Bringing Books to Class:
The good news is that you do not have to lug all five of our books to class each day.  It may be useful to have the Hammond Atlas will you most of the time.  Otherwise, you will only need to bring books with material being discussed for that class day.  Do make sure that you have done the assigned reading before each class.  .

Final Note:
While I can bring a certain level of learning and knowledge to this class, the world is a very big place and there is far more to our subject than any individual could ever know.  I am also a learner. I look forward to hearing from you about any knowledge or experience that you can bring to bear about our subjects. I also look forward to learning more about you individually as we meet in class and out. Always feel free to drop in during office hours, to e-mail me, or to ask for an appointment when you cannot come to office hours. I hope that this will be a stimulating semester for all of us as we learn more about what the phrase "global community" really means!

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 SCHEDULE (subject to change)

• WM = World Masterpieces

• WR = World Religions

• WV = World Views

• WOM = Worlds of Music

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How this course meets each of the learning outcomes identified in General Education categories 6 and 8:

6a
Students demonstrate awareness of scope and variety of works of literature, art, music, theater, philosophy, and religious expression from ancient times to the present, in cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America.

6b
Students demonstrate understanding of individual and cultural values expressed by artists and writers through religion, philosophy, the arts and other forms of cultural expression from ancient times to the present, in cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America.

6c
Students demonstrate ability to respond critically to works from cultures of t sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America and to the expression of the cultural, artistic, humanistic, social and political differences within and among those cultures through class discussion, journals, exams and/or other formats

6d
Not usually addressed, since this is not a studio-oriented course, but students may demonstrate their knowledge and familiarity with one of the cultures being studied by offering a recitation, performance or demonstration of a cultural work or ceremony.

6e
Students demonstrate ability to articulate an informed personal response to works in the arts and humanities from cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America through class discussion, journals, exams and/or other formats.

8a
Students demonstrate ability to describe, analyze, and evaluate humanistic, artistic and cultural elements (within historical, social and economic contexts) which have influenced and still influence relations of nations and peoples in sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America.

8b
Students demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences within and among cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, the Oceania/Pacific region, and Latin America as expressed through works of literature, art, music, theater, philosophy, and religious expression.

8c
Students demonstrate awareness of humanistic, artistic and cultural elements (within historical, social and economic contexts) that underlie specific international problems, past and present, and which may facilitate or impede their solution, as expressed through works of literature, art, music, theater, philosophy, and religious expression.

8d
Students demonstrate the understanding of and sensitivity to cultural issues of the past and present that are a necessary component in the role of a world citizen.