HUM 101: Neohumanism in Art, Culture and Literature (2023)

Syllabus Here

NEOHUMANISM IN ART, LITERATURE, AND CULTURE

This course will study art, literature, and culture from a Neohumanist perspective. It will present an overview of Neohumanism and establish links to both humanism as a classical philosophy and the humanities as academic disciplines. It will then conceptualize the terms “art,” “literature,” and “culture” while exploring a variety of artistic, literary, and cultural tradition(s) and production(s) from different historical periods and geographic locations. It will ultimately aim not only to analyze and interpret art, literature, and culture in both local and global contexts, but also to appreciate and evaluate diverse forms of human expression, thus promoting unity in diversity through universalism.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES

• Students will learn to contextualize Neohumanism in terms of humanism and the humanities by relating Eastern and Western philosophical traditions from antiquity to(trans)modernity.
• Students will learn to conceptualize art, literature, and culture as objects of human expression by studying the origin and evolution of such terms as well as the things and manifestations to which they refer.
• Students will learn about a variety of artistic, literary, and cultural tradition(s) and production(s) from different historical periods and geographic locations by being exposed and presented to classical and modern works from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
• Students will learn to analyze and interpret art, literature, and culture in both local and global contexts by being introduced to theories and practices of criticism. 
• Students will learn to appreciate and evaluate art, literature, and culture from a Neohumanist perspective by understanding how such forms of human expression inspire individual awareness and social progress.
• Students will learn to promote unity in diversity by adopting a universalist approach to art, literature, and culture that recognizes and embraces particular methods.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT

This course will have the following learning assessments:

1. A Reading Journal (20% of grade) that consists of weekly entries (5 in total) in which the student will dialogue with the readings with impressions, reactions, reflections, and interpretations from a subjective and objective perspective. Note: all entries must be completed before class!
2. An individual or a group Presentation (20% of grade) in which the student(s) will showcase local art, literature, and or culture from a neohumanist perspective.
3. Participation (20% of grade) in class discussions in a knowledgeable, inquisitive, and/or meaningful way.
4. A Final Exam (20% of grade) which will be completed at home and will review key concepts and overall content from the course.
5. A Final Project (20% of grade) which will develop a personalized topic around the theme of “Neohumanism in Art, Literature, and Culture.” Students are encouraged to create their own art, literature, or cultural manifestation in dialogue with neohumanist principles, or to propose a specific object of study.