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I. TITLE: Honors Seminar in Arts and Culture Abroad

II. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  An interdisciplinary exploration of the visual arts, architecture, music, theatre, cinema, and folk and popular culture.  Offered only in study abroad programs sponsored by Murray State University.  Research and critical writing will be emphasized.  Qualifies as a fine arts elective for Honors Program requirements and as a University Studies fine arts elective.  Open only to students in good standing in the Murray State Honors Program or to students from other universities with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the time of application to the study abroad program.  May be repeated for credit if taken in a different foreign culture.

III. COURSE PURPOSE:  The course will teach students to analyze and deepen their experience of arts and culture in international contexts.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVE:  Students will increase their understanding of the arts and culture by studying specific cultural artifacts that they will later experience as a group.  In each artifact selected for examination, students will be expected to:

1. Discuss the form elements of line, shape, color, and texture.
2. Discuss the manner in which time, mass, measure, and position contributes to the aesthetic effectiveness and worth of object.
3. Place the artifact in a respective time frame and relate it to similar objects and artists.
4. Discuss additional works by the object’s creator by comparing/contrasting them.

V. CONTENT OUTLINE:  The content of the course will vary, depending on the cultural resources of each foreign location.  In general, flexibility should be encouraged in order to take advantage of the cultural opportunities which exist.

VI. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVIES:  Lectures, discussions, frequent oral student reports and presentations, several research or analytical essays, examinations and excursions.

VII. FIELD EXPERIENCES:  Field trips (labs) to visit museums, architectural sites, and/or performances will be required.  Reasonable expenses of these “labs,” such as transportation and entrance fees, will be borne by the student.

VIII. RESOURCES:  Students will be required to do much of the necessary research in American libraries before leaving this country, as assignments will be made after advance registration.  While on site, students will use textbooks, local libraries, and the Internet.  The artifacts themselves will provide stimulus for study.

IX. GRADING PROCEDURES:  Students will be graded on the quality and timeliness of written and oral work, as well as on contributions to class discussion and attendance.  Letter grades will be awarded.

5 critical reaction papers @ 20    = 100
1 major research essay @ 50         50
2 oral reports@ 25           50
2 examinations:
 Mid-Term           50
 Final (comprehensive)       100
10 lab activities @ 10        100

  Total possible points       500

 LETTER GRADE:

 A=90% of total possible points
 B=80%
 C=70%
 D=60%
 E=59% and lower
 

X. ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Students will be penalized for each unexcused absence by one third of a letter grade off the final average.

XI. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:  The student is referred to page 11 of the 1999-2001 Undergraduate Bulletin.  It is the operative policy in this course.

XII. TEXT AND REFERENCES:  Texts will vary widely, according to the country or countries of study.  However, for aesthetic discussion purposes, the text, Feeling and Form by Susanne Langer will allow for a common vocabulary to be established in a discussion of form elements.

XIII. PREREQUISITES:  Open only to students in the Murray State University Honors Program, or to students from other universities with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the time of application to the study abroad program and where transfer credit has been approved.