2012-2013 Academic Year Calendar - Marianopolis

General Education: Humanitiesunderstanding, like other forms ofknowledge, is informed by societalforces.Cornerstones of MedievalKnowledgeThe "Middle Ages" refers to a periodof European history spanning the1000 years between roughly the 5thand the 15th centuries. Rather thanbeing so-called "Dark Ages", theperiod generated knowledge that hada significant impact on developmentsin subsequent periods. Many areas ofhuman endeavour that are celebratedtoday had their genesis or gotaffirmed during this period, thetime of infancy of our contemporaryworld. With lectures, discussions,group work and other in-classactivities, we explore some of thecornerstones of medieval knowledge.Rather than taking a strictly chronologicalapproach, we will look at theMiddle Ages in thematic blocks:Religion and Religious Authority,Culture and Learning, Society, andKnowledge of the World. In order tomore fully appreciate their legacy, wealso examine and challenge some ofthe common pre-conceived notionsabout the Middle Ages.The American CenturyThis course attempts to help studentsto understand American civilizationand evaluate its impact on thetwentieth century. It examines theachievements and limitations ofAmerican civilization both at homeand abroad. The course takes aninterdisciplinary approach toknowledge of American civilization.It illustrates how different forms ofknowledge: the social sciences,history, philosophy, the arts, andliterature can help us to develop ourknowledge of American civilizationand evaluate its impact on the world.World Views345-102-MQ (3-0-3) 2 credits- 3 hours of class- 3 hours of homeworkCourses in this category explore arange of world views from theindividual to the ideological, thenational to the cross-cultural, the pastto the present.The Ancient GreeksThis course introduces students to theimportance of world views and theirrelationship to society by studying theAncient Greeks from earliest times tothe Hellenistic period. Included in thecourse are the major ideas of Greekpoets, playwrights, philosophers,historians, and scientists. Studentsare introduced to the rich diversity ofworld views and experiences whichcharacterized the Ancient Greeks andwhich led them to influence andshape Western Civilization.Strangers, Gods, and Monsters:Storytelling from Religions Aroundthe WorldThe purpose of this course is tointroduce students to the art ofstorytelling in religious culture.Students begin with questions aboutstorytelling itself, such as why we tellthe stories we tell and what functionsthese stories serve in various religiouscommunities. Students then explorea series of important mythologicalmotifs such as creation narratives;the virtual omnipresence of godsaround the world, the monstrous,scapegoats and animals. Althoughcertain assumptions are prevalentconcerning these themes, this courseattempts to deconstruct them andbring new light to very old traditions.Since this course is not dependentupon any one religious traditionalone, it has the benefit of exploringthese mythic motifs in various traditionsaround the world, and thusthrough careful comparative efforts,provide a window into ideas that maypossibly be the fruit of a universalhuman experience, or at the veryleast, a universally limited humanimagination.Art and Culture of the AncientAmericasThis course explores the artistic andcultural traditions of the AncientAmericas. The prehistoric populationsof the Americas are traced, followingthe evolution of different artistictraditions and the lifestyles andbeliefs they reflect. Students explorein detail the evolution of severaldistinct cultures, ranging from thosethat created the soapstone carvingsof the Arctic, to the striking designsof Pacific coast totems, to the intricatepatterns of southwest sand-painting,to the monumental pyramids ofCentral and South America. Theimpact of the arrival of Europeansis also studied.Aboriginal Cultures in CanadaCanadian Aboriginal peoples arepresently facing critical issuessurrounding the struggle for thesurvival of their various culturalidentities. This course focuses onstudying Aboriginal world viewsthrough an appreciation of culture.Students study representative groupsfrom each region of Canada(including Eastern Woodlands, Plains,Northwest Coast, and Arctic), with anemphasis placed on aspects of FirstNations, Metis and Inuit culture suchas material culture, traditional beliefsystems, creation stories, and socialstructure. The course also addresseshistorical and contemporary40