Arts & Ideas in the Humanities Major

Effective Winter 2013

May be elected as a departmental major 

Students wishing to pursue a major program in Arts and Ideas in the Humanities must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the program's designated advisor. Appointments may be scheduled at the RC Advising Office, 134 Tyler, East Quad, or by calling 734.763.0032.

The Arts and Ideas Major offers students the ability to construct an interdisciplinary major in the arts and humanities. Majors can combine either two humanities disciplines or a humanities discipline with an artistic practice. Many courses focus on a specific historical moment or context, encouraging students to examine a particular culture through a broad range of different media. In these courses, students are asked to develop interpretive and analytical skills appropriate to the arts. Courses in visual studies, performance, and studio art provide training in the comparative analysis or practice of different art forms. By combining practice with the academic study of art, the Arts and Ideas curriculum encourages students to reflect on the origins of art, and to engage in its contexts, whether productive or historical.

Advising

The Residential College (RC) is a four-year undergraduate liberal arts program with about 900 students and 60 faculty, situated within LSA. All RC advisors are RC faculty members and are available to meet with students to discuss RC and LSA requirements, possible majors, graduation requirements, etc. The RC Board on Academic Standing considers petitions submitted by RC students relating to requirements, deadlines, and academic circumstances. Appointments with academic advisors can be scheduled by calling the RC Academic Services Office at (734) 763-0032, or by stopping by the offices at 134 Tyler.

Prerequisites

None.

Requirements for the Major:

A minimum of five courses to be elected from (1) History and Theory and (2) Visual Studies, Performance and Studio Arts, completed by seven courses of Specialized Study. (Total: minimum of 12 courses)

1. History and Theory: There are two areas: (A) Historical Perspectives and (B) Issues of Modernity. Students take two courses in one area and one in the remaining area:
   1. Historical Perspectives
      • RCHUMS 309  Classical Sources of Modern Culture
      • RCHUMS 310   Pagans, Christians, Barbarians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
      • RCHUMS 314  The Figure of Rome in Shakespeare and 16th-Century Painting
      • RCHUMS 315  Representations of History in the Literature and Visual Arts of Rome
      • RCHUMS 344  Reason and Passion in the 18th Century
      • RCHUMS 354  Race and Identity in Music
      • RCHUMS 373  The Performing Arts in South and Southeast Asia
   2. Issues of Modernity
      • RCHUMS 290  Arts and Ideas of the 20th Century
      • RCHUMS 291  Arts and Ideas of the 19th Century
      • RCHUMS 305  Cultural Confrontations in the Arts
      • RCHUMS 308  Art and Culture: Arts and Ideas of South and Southeast Asia
      • RCHUMS 318  Critical Approaches to Literature
      • RCHUMS 342  Representing the Holocaust in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts
      • RCHUMS 356 The Symphonic Century; Music and Revolution in the 19thCentury
      • RCHUMS 372  The Subject in the Aftermath of Revolution
2. Visual Studies, Performance, and Studio Arts: Two courses selected from one or more of the following areas.
   1. Film/Video
      • RCHUMS 236  Art of the Film
      • RCHUMS 312  Central European Cinema
      • RCHUMS 313   Russian and Ukrainian Cinema
   2. Dance
      • RCHUMS 235  Topics in World Dance
      • RCHUMS 260   The Art of Dance: An Introduction to American and European Dance History
      • RCHUMS 444  George Balanchine and the Transformation of American Dance
   3. Studio Arts
      • RCARTS 268  Introduction to Visual Thinking and Creativity
      • RCARTS 269  Elements of Design
      • RCARTS 285  Photography
      • RCARTS 286  Sculpture
      • RCARTS 287  Printmaking
      • RCARTS 288  Introduction to Drawing
      • RCARTS 289  Ceramics
   4.   Music
      • RCHUMS 249   Foundations of Music
      • RCHUMS 250   Chamber Music
      • RCHUMS 251   Topics in Music
      • RCHUMS 252   Topics in Musical Expression
      • RCHUMS 253   Choral Ensemble
      • RCHUMS 256   Studying and Playing Southeast Asian Music
      • RCHUMS 258   Afro Cuban Drumming and Styles
      • RCHUMS 259   Musical Improvisation
      • RCHUMS 350   Creative Musicianship
      • RCHUMS 351   Creative Musicianship: Theory Lab
      • RCHUMS 352   Found Instruments
3. Specialized Study: Seven upper-level courses (300 and above) distributed among two areas of focus. Four courses must be selected from one area and three in the remaining area. These areas and the specific courses considered appropriate for inclusion are determined by the student in consultation with the Arts and Ideas designated advisor. Possible areas of specialization include, for example: drama and anthropology; photography and history of art; literature and history; creative writing and African-American studies. However, no more than one of the two specializations may be in the practice of an art form.

Honors Plan.

Qualified students may be admitted to a program of advanced study in the beginning or middle of the junior year. An Honors Thesis is required.

May be elected as a departmental major 

Students wishing to pursue a major program in Arts and Ideas in the Humanities must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the program's designated advisor. Appointments may be scheduled at the RC Advising Office, 134 Tyler, East Quad, or by calling 734.763.0032.

The Arts and Ideas Major offers students the ability to construct an interdisciplinary major in the arts and humanities. Majors can combine either two humanities disciplines or a humanities discipline with an artistic practice. Many courses focus on a specific historical moment or context, encouraging students to examine a particular culture through a broad range of different media. In these courses, students are asked to develop interpretive and analytical skills appropriate to the arts. Courses in visual studies, performance, and studio art provide training in the comparative analysis or practice of different art forms. By combining practice with the academic study of art, the Arts and Ideas curriculum encourages students to reflect on the origins of art, and to engage in its contexts, whether productive or historical.

Requirements for the Major: a minimum of five courses to be elected from (1) History and Theory and (2) Visual Studies, Performance and Studio Arts, completed by seven courses of Specialized Study. (Total: minimum of 12 courses)

1. History and Theory: There are two areas: (A) Historical Perspectives and (B) Issues of Modernity. Students take two courses in one area and one in the remaining area:
   1. Historical Perspectives
      • RCHUMS 309  Classical Sources of Modern Culture
      • RCHUMS 310   Pagans, Christians, Barbarians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
      • RCHUMS 314  The Figure of Rome in Shakespeare and 16^th-Century Painting
      • RCHUMS 315  Representations of History in the Literature and Visual Arts of Rome
      • RCHUMS 344  Reason and Passion in the 18^th Century
      • RCHUMS 373  The Performing Arts in South and Southeast Asia
   2. Issues of Modernity
      • RCHUMS 290  Arts and Ideas of the 20^th Century
      • RCHUMS 291  Arts and Ideas of the 19^th Century
      • RCHUMS 305  Cultural Confrontations in the Arts
      • RCHUMS 308  Art and Culture: Arts and Ideas of South and Southeast Asia
      • RCHUMS 318  Critical Approaches to Literature
      • RCHUMS 342  Representing the Holocaust in Literature, Film and the Visual Arts
      • RCHUMS 356 The Symphonic Century; Music and Revolution in the 19^thCentury
      • RCHUMS 372  The Subject in the Aftermath of Revolution
2. Visual Studies, Performance, and Studio Arts: Two courses selected from one or more of the following areas.
   1. Film/Video
      • RCHUMS 236  Art of the Film
      • RCHUMS 255  Film Experience
      • RCHUMS 312  Central European Cinema
      • RCHUMS 313   Russian and Ukrainian Cinema
   2. Dance
      • RCHUMS 235  Topics in World Dance
      • RCHUMS 260   The Art of Dance: An Introduction to American and European Dance History
      • RCHUMS 444  George Balanchine and the Transformation of American Dance
   3. Studio Arts
      • RCARTS 268  Introduction to Visual Thinking and Creativity
      • RCARTS 269  Elements of Design
      • RCARTS 285  Photography
      • RCARTS 286  Sculpture
      • RCARTS 287  Printmaking
      • RCARTS 288  Introduction to Drawing
      • RCARTS 289  Ceramics
   4.   Music
      • RCHUMS 249   Foundations of Music
      • RCHUMS 250   Chamber Music
      • RCHUMS 251   Topics in Music
      • RCHUMS 252   Topics in Musical Expression
      • RCHUMS 253   Choral Ensemble
      • RCHUMS 256   Studying and Playing Southeast Asian Music
      • RCHUMS 258   Afro Cuban Drumming and Styles
      • RCHUMS 259   Musical Improvisation
      • RCHUMS 350   Creative Musicianship
      • RCHUMS 351   Creative Musicianship: Theory Lab
      • RCHUMS 352   Found Instruments
3. Specialized Study: Seven upper-level courses (300 and above) distributed among two areas of focus. Four courses must be selected from one area and three in the remaining area. These areas and the specific courses considered appropriate for inclusion are determined by the student in consultation with the Arts and Ideas designated advisor. Possible areas of specialization include, for example: drama and anthropology; photography and history of art; literature and history; creative writing and African-American studies. However, no more than one of the two specializations may be in the practice of an art form.

Honors Plan. Qualified students may be admitted to a program of advanced study in the beginning or middle of the junior year. An Honors Thesis is required.