Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to issues and concepts central to the study of the humanities around the world. Through exposure to primary materials drawn from different periods, disciplines, and regions, students will become acquainted with a range of topics and ideas relating to the study of the human condition, human values, and human experience. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Welcome to "Introduction to Global Humanities" - a fascinating exploration into the heart of human existence. This fall term, embark on a journey of discovery that cuts across the fabric of human society.

This course navigates the compelling questions that shape our self-perception, societal interactions, historical memory, and future aspirations. Who are we? How do our relationships with family, peers, society, and culture define us? Why do we seek to “belong” to national, subnational, religious communities and subcultural groups and what meanings do we attribute to these? Are we truly free or are we bound by divine will, natural laws, and societal expectations? How do we connect with the past through the threads of memory, heritage, and tradition? What drives us to collaborate or engage in conflict?

These timeless queries, posed by humanity since time immemorial, form the cornerstone of this course. We will address them through the lens of cultural creativity, imagination, and thought - as expressed in music, film, photography, visual arts, literature, philosophy, and our daily interactions. Join us in unravelling the complexities of our existence, as we explore the realm of global humanities.

Towards the end of the course, you will engage in a field activity – research in the community you live, study or work in. This is a form of experiential learning designed to give you insights on conducting research using what you have learned during the term, but also transferrable skills for further study and employment.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course aims to equip students with the ability to:

1. Critically analyze Humanities and Social Science texts to academic standards: Students will learn to dissect texts critically, applying academic standards to validate their understanding and interpretation.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of authors and texts from different historical and cultural contexts and a comprehensive understanding of global perspectives across various eras, cultures and disciplines.
3. Use sources effectively and craft well-structured arguments: Students will learn to utilize research sources efficiently. They will also learn to construct persuasive, logical, and well-structured arguments which will aid them in developing a thesis or structuring a paper.
4. Understand and analyze the function of humanities and social science texts with respect to political and social relations: Students will learn to discern how Humanities texts influence and are influenced by political and social dynamics. They will develop the ability to analyze these texts within the context of such relations.
5. Engage in interpretations and analysis of self and society: Students will learn to contemplate and critically analyze the various factors that shape their self-perception and societal interactions - family, peers, culture, and societal norms and will gain insights into the aspects that influence human aspirations and the boundaries that limit human freedom - divine will, natural laws, and societal expectations.
6. Understand the importance of history, societal memory, tradition and heritage in shaping present society.
7. Appreciate the role of cultural creativity, imagination, and thought in expressing these fundamental human concerns, as reflected in various forms of art - music, film, photography, visual arts, literature, and philosophy.

By the end of the course, students will have honed their analytical skills, expanded their knowledge of diverse texts, and refined their argumentative abilities.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: