Honors 301:  Honors Colloquium

Spring Semester 2007

G. Dameron (Department of History)

Durick Library 306/x2318

Office Hours: Monday, 1-2; Wednesday, 2-4, and by appointment

McCarthy Arts Center (Saint Michael’s College)

Source:  Saint Michael’s College Web Site (http://academics.smcvt.edu/playhouse/)

Goals of Course:

The goals of the 2-credit Honors Colloquium are several:  1) to challenge students to take full advantage of the cultural and academic resources of the College and wider Burlington community, 2) to broaden student appreciation and understanding of the fine arts and of a liberal arts education, 3) to foster critical thinking and communication skills in writing and speaking, and 4) to fulfill a major requirement of the Honors Program.

Course Format:

This 2-credit course will consist of weekly colloquium (seminar) meetings, during which there will be discussions and presentations, and the attendance by the student of ten (10) cultural or artistic events.  There will be no lectures or examinations.  The course will use the eCollege course management system, and the web site will include an online syllabus, web sites, lists of readings, lists of events, and any other material deemed relevant to the course by the instructor. Students should consult the site frequently for updated information.

Requirements:

• Class attendance and participation in discussions once a week on Wednesdays (4:30-6:30).  There will be one or more additional meetings outside our normal meeting time that are connected to the four events.  As a courtesy to the instructor and other students, all absences should be documented and (if possible) announced in advance.  During those weeks when required events are scheduled, the class will not be meeting at its regular Wednesday time slot.  On the day the film is scheduled (February 21), class time will exceed the normal two hours.
• Reading:  The Autobiography of Malcolm X (As Told to Alex Haley) (New York:  Ballantine Books, 1973).  There may be other shorter readings associated with specific events, and those readings will be listed at the eCollege site.
• Attendance at a minimum of ten (10) events.  No more than two (2) in any one category qualify.  Four (4) specific events listed below are required; each student will choose the six (6) remaining events.
  • Categories of events are the following:
    • Music (classical, blues, pop, jazz)
    • Drama
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Film
    • The visual arts
    • Politics (with regards to theory or social action)
    • Global issues
    • Science/Math
    • Literature (academic lectures, public readings of fiction or poetry)
    • Social Sciences
    • Languages
    • Philosophy
    • Religion
  • The four (4) required events:
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Convocation:  “1001 Black Inventions,” Pin Points Theater (Monday, January 22, Saint Michael’s College Chapel, 4 pm-6 pm);
    • “The Marriage of Figaro” (Wolfgang Mozart), Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Friday, February 9, 7:30 pm (preceding opera will be a special dinner on campus); if tickets are not available for all students, an alternate event will be assigned;
    • “The Importance of Being Earnest” (Oscar Wilde):  Saint Michael’s College Production, March 28-31, 7 pm (students can choose a performance that is appropriate for them);
    • Saint Michael’s College Humanities Program Concert Series:  A Celebration of the Saint Michael’s College President (Friday, April 13, 8 pm).  Music by Janacek, Franck, and others.  The concert organizer and performer, P. Orgel, will meet with the colloquium at a time to be announced prior to the concert to discuss and present the program.

• Response Papers:  one response paper (about 500 words or roughly two pages, double-spaced) for each of the ten (10) events attended.

• One in-class presentation/discussion on one of the events attended:  20 minutes long, accompanied by a short reading chosen by the student.

• Final Paper:  a formal, ten (10) page paper (double-spaced) that requires some research and represents a synthesis of your experiences regarding the ten (10) events.

Class and Event Schedule:

January 17:  Introduction and orientation to course

• A viewing of an hour-long segment of the documentary, “Eyes on the Prize”, to serve as an introduction for the reading of The Autobiography of Malcolm X

January 22 (Monday):  MLK Convocation, January 22 (Monday, 4 pm, College Chapel)

January 24:  no class

January 31:  Discussion:  The Autobiography of Malcolm X (pages 1-214)

February 7:  no class

February 9:  Opera (The Marriage of Figaro by W. Mozart), 7:30 pm, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

February 14:  Discussion:  The Autobiography of Malcolm X (pages 215 to the end)

February 21:  A viewing of Spike Lee’s film, Malcolm X (SE 113)

February 28:  Presentations and discussions

March 7:  Presentations and discussions

**March 10-18:  Semester Break**

March 21:  Presentations and discussions

March 28:  no class

March 28-31:  Oscan Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (Saint Michael’s College Spring Production, McCarthy Arts Center)

April 4:  Discussion:  The Importance of Being Earnest (we will be joined in our discussion by Peter Harrigan, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, and director of the production)

• Link to an online edition of the play:

http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBlade/Wilde/earnest/

April 11:  Introduction and orientation to the Humanities Program Concert on April 13 by Paul Orgel, concert organizer and performer

April 13 (Friday):  Saint Michael’s College Humanities Program Concert Series Spring Concert (“A Celebration of the Saint Michael’s College President”; Paul Orgel, concert organizer)

April 18:  no class

April 25:  presentations and discussion

May 2:  Final presentations and discussion

• Course conclusion
• Final paper due

Web Sites listing possible artistic and political events from January through May, 2007:

The Humanities 102 (Modern Civilization) Film Series (most Wednesday evenings, beginning 7 pm):  see my Humanities 102 syllabus, posted at my web site.

The City of Burlington

The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

The Lane Series (University of Vermont)

The Fine Arts, Art, Music, and Theater Departments (Saint Michael’s College)

The Fleming Art Museum (The University of Vermont)

The Middlebury Art Museum

The Saint Michael’s College Events Calendar

Seven Days (weekly local newspaper)

Vermont Council on the Humanities

The Vermont Mozart Festival

Major Political Parties:  Democrats, Progressives, Republicans

M.O.V.E. (and other student activities, Saint Michael’s College)