HUM 0005. Classical Roots of the Contemporary Western World

Units: 3
Formerly known as HUM 300G
Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
An examination of the Classical World's influence on the Contemporary Western World with special emphasis on theology, body image, love and sex, gender roles, democracy, conceptions of the good life, and entertainment based upon evidence from the art, architecture, literature, and philosophy of the Classical World. (CSU, UC)

HUM 0005 - Classical Roots of the Contemporary Western World

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/course-outlines/hum-0005/

Catalog Description DESCRIPTION IS HERE: Formerly known as HUM 300G Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A Hours: 54 lecture Description: An examination of the Classical World's influence on the Contemporary Western World with special emphasis on theology, body image, love and sex, gender roles, democracy, conceptions of the good life, and entertainment based upon evidence from the art, architecture, literature, and philosophy of the Classical World. (CSU, UC) Units 3 Lecture-Discussion 54 Laboratory By Arrangement Contact Hours 54 Outside of Class Hours Course Student Learning Outcomes Identify and describe diverse cultural artifacts and values from the ancient through medieval eras from the classical Greek cultures. Analyze and explain diverse cultural artifacts and values from the classical Greek cultures. Compare and contrast diverse cultural artifacts and values within and/or across classical Greek cultures. Communicate effectively orally or in writing on a topic in classical Greek cultures. Course Content Outline I. Goddesses/Gods/God A. Minoan Goddesses B. Gaia and Ouranos C. The Titans D. The Olympians E. Generational Replacement Stories F. Replacement of Goddesses with Gods G. Replacement of Gods with God II. The Person A. The Male Body 1. Art and Nudity 2. Clothing and Status 3. The Gymnasium and Exercise 4. Public Nudity and Social Function 5. The Ideal Body 6. The Phallus: Power and Fertility B. The Female Body 1. Asymmetry with the male body and Social Functioning 2. Desire and Nudity 3. Aphrodite of Kaidos: The first nude female sculpture of Greece 4. Aphrodite of Kalipygos and Desire 5. Patriarchy and the female nude: The male body as perfection and the female body as needing explanation III. Love and Sex A. Men and Women 1. Asymmetry in desire for men and women 2. Husbands/Wives, Sons/Daughters, Property Rights and Property Transferal B. Men and Men 1. Satyrs and Rules for Sexual Relations 2. Legality and Social Functions of Male Same-Sex Love/Sex C. Women and Women 1. Illegality and Condemnation 2. Sappho: Female desire in a male world IV. Happiness and the Good Life A. Philosophy 1. Mythology to Philosophy 2. Socrates and Plato 3. Aristotle and the Nichomachean Ethics 4. Pursuit of Pleasure and Moderation 5. The Lack of Want 6. Christianity and its affinity for philosophy and distrust of philosophy V. Democracy A. Solon B. Peisistratus, Hipparchus and Hippias C. Cleisthenes D. Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy E. Participatory Citizenship F. Parrhesia (Freedom of Speech) G. Isegoria (Equality of Public Expression) H. Personal Accountability I. Trial by Jury J. Criminal Punishment K. Plato and the Critique of Democracy L. Socrates: Friend or Enemy of the State? 1. The Elenchus 2. Dissent, Politics and Social Progress 3. Cato: Socrates as Social Disruption VI. Entertainment A. Greek Tragedy and Modern Drama B. Gladiatorial Games and Modern Sporting Events/Reality Shows/Entertainment Course Objectives Course Objectives Students will, through oral and written work, gain the ability to: 1. Describe the displacement stories of Goddesses by Gods, Ouranos by Cronos, Cronos by Zeus, Titans by Olympians; 2. Describe the movement from Gods to God; 3. Compare and contrast body ideals expressed in modern advertising with body ideals expressed in Ancient Greece; 4. Describe, compare and contrast the perfect male body in Ancient Greece with male body ideals in the contemporary Western World; 5. Describe, compare and contrast contemporary gyms and exercise with the gymnasium for Ancient Greek Men with regards to body development, spiritual development, moral development and social functioning; 6. Describe the public functions of male nudity in Ancient Greece with privacy and prohibitions for nudity in the Contemporary Western World; 7. Describe the relationship between male desire, female desire, female nudity and classical gender relationships; 8. Describe, compare and contrast love/desirous relationships between men and women, men and men, and women and women in Classical Greece; 9. Evaluate the evidence of vase paintings, art works, architectural elements and literature for contributing to the contemporary understanding of these love relationships; 10. Describe the social functions, prohibitions and regulations governing male/female, male/male and female/female relationships for both the Ancient and the Modern Western worlds; 11. Describe and evaluate the Classical Greek ideals for attaining the Good Life; 12. Compare and contrast virtue ethics with contemporary approaches to ethical issues; 13. Describe and evaluate the role of moderation and the experience of pleasure in Artistotelean Ethics; 14. Describe the advent of Christianity and its affinity for and distrust of Ancient Philosophy; 15. Describe both the continuities and discontinuities between the Classical Greek/Roman Worlds and the early Christian world; 16. Describe the birth of democracy in Ancient Athens through the personages of Solon, Peisistratus, Hipparchus and Hippias, and Cleisthenes; 17. Compare and contrast Athenian direct democracy with contemporary representative democracies with special attention to the role of participatory citizenship in each; 18. Define and explain the origins of Parrhesia, Isegoria and trial by Jury in Ancient Athens; 19. Describe, compare and contrast the role of critiques of democracy within a democracy between Ancient Greek political systems and contemporary Western systems; 20. Describe and evaluate the personality and behaviors of Socrates including the Elenchus, his regard for an examined life, his martyrdom, his democratic dissent with his democratic government and the possible social disruption that he caused; 21. Compare and contrast classical forms of entertainment such as tragedy and gladitorial games with contemporary forms of entertainment including, but not limited to, drama, movies, sporting events, television shows, reality television shows, etc. Methods of Evaluation Classroom Discussions Essay Examinations Objective Examinations Projects Reading Assignments 1. Read chapter on Love, Sex and Tragedy and be ready to discuss the role of the Herm and the meaning of the symbol of the phallus in Classical Greece. 2. Read Plato's dialogue, Symposium and be prepared to discuss the relationship Plato makes between Eros and Socrates, the philosopher. Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. Based upon the description of the meaning of the image of the Satyr found in chapter on Love, Sex and Tragedy, analyze in a formally written, three page paper the Symposium scene and characters portrayed on the attached image of a Classical Greek vase. 2. Compare and contrast the moral expressed in the attached image of a Satyr with the moral expressed in the attached image of a Paederastic relationship from Classical Greece. Both of these images were found on vase paintings. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Methods of Instruction Lecture/Discussion Distance Learning Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

Humanities

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/departments/humanities/

The study of Humanities offers an approach which integrates the arts, literature, history, music, philosophy and other disciplines. The program focuses on the culture of human civilization from classic antiquity through the Middle Ages and Renaissance to the Modern Era. The objective of the Humanities is to give a sense of wholeness to human experience.