Arts Seminars Previously Offered at UPEI
Fall 2007
Arts 101A: Call and Answer: Popular Music's Response to Societal Change
Leaders: Ian Lane and Qeturah Tersteeg
Twentieth-century popular music is a by-product of radical social
movements as well as a response to contentious political policies.
Artists ranging from The
Beastie Boys and their challenge of China’s Tibet occupation, to Public
Enemy and their response to civil rights violations are part of this
trend. This course will investigate the connections between societal
movements and popular music through historical, literary, sociological,
and psychological approaches. Students listen to musical selections,
view films, and learn to interpret their social impact in the contexts
of relevant readings, discussions, and writing.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
Arts 101B: Great Thinkers: How an Idea can Change the World
Leaders: Kelsey Moore and Sean Molloy
We explore the power of inspired thinking, concentrating on some of the
most influential Western thinkers throughout history. How have the
ideas of men and women such as Socrates, Darwin, and Freud changed the
world—both in their own times and in ours? We consider the lives of
eight thinkers, the contexts of their times, and the main tenets of
their work. We look at how these thinkers influenced not only their own
societies, in their own times, but also how they laid important
intellectual foundations for future generations. We emphasize how these
thinkers' ideas are constructed and reflected throughout modern life,
and in virtually all aspects of popular culture, including movies,
books, and theatre. Through this course participants see how our modern
world is constructed on the genius of inspired thinking and the courage
to undertake its expression.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
Arts 101C: Controversy: A Catalyst of Change
Leaders: Jennifer O’Connor and Kyle Landry
Controversy challenges and disrupts the status quo. It sparks debate
and shapes the ways that we make sense of our world. This course
examines controversy
through cross-cultural, political, literary, and historical
perspectives. Discussion forms the basis of the course, as we look at
the
people and events that have been catalysts for some of the great
controversial issues of the past fifty years. Issues within the themes
of violence, racism, sex, and poverty are considered. Students
critically examine these events and issues through film, literature,
and other media, exploring how differing perspectives challenge popular
perceptions.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
ARTS 101A: The "Reel" World: Societal Evolution Through Film
Leaders: Mariam Esseghaier and Colin MacDonald
This course examines the way films, an aspect of popular culture, bring to the forefront issues within society that had not been challenged or discussed so openly prior to their portrayal on film. The class consists of identifying groundbreaking films that challenged such controversial topis as AIDS, race, and gender and sexuality, and analyzing them from both historical and literary perspectives. The class begins with the 1939 Best Picture Oscar-winner Gone With the Wind and concludes with the 2006 winner Crash.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
Main 211
ARTS 101B: A World of Controversy
Leaders: Katie Harris and Christina Yeldon
The purpose of this seminar is to engage students in critical thinking about recent world events, such as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and controversial topics such as sexuality, Creationism versus Evolution, feminism, and censorship. Students 1) explore why the topics are controversial; 2) identify the ideologies involved; and 3) develop their own thought process using knowledge they have acquired and created about the topics.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
Main 311
ARTS 101C: Sex, Technology, and Other Societal Influences on Identity
Leaders: Bobbie Dawson and Susan Forsythe
What answers result from the question, “Who am I?” What factors prompt individuals to formulate such a question in the first place? Various interplays of intrapersonal and interpersonal issues pave the paths to identity formation. This course takes an interactive look at both individual and collective identity formation as impacted by cultural forces of the past, present, and future. Sexuality, gender, media, technology, taboos, beauty, and other factors are explored from Western and non-Western viewpoints.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30pm
Main 411
ARTS 101A: More than McDonald's in Moscow: Cultural Effects of Globalization
Leaders: Chrissy Barry and Rob Reddin
For better or for worse, people from all parts of the world are now facing increasing exposure to new cultures and ideas. This course examines the effect of globalization on different elements of culture such as literature, art, film, television, and even food. A platform is provided for identification and discussion of the cultural amalgamation that results from this contact. Appropriate consideration is given to trends in economic and political globalization, as well as the anti-globalization movement. Students also have the opportunity for their own cultural exchanges through various projects throughout the semester.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 211
ARTS 101B: Conflict and Insight in the Construction of Self
Leaders: Julie Bull and Allison Ling
The notion that many internal and external factors actively work together to make up the individual’s sense of being and identity is often referred to as the "construction of self." This course examines the insights and conflicts that occur in the evolution of the self. Students are immersed in a diverse selection of literature on topics including gender and sexuality, media influences, religion, and politics. The course provides students with an opportunity for growth in critical and analytical thinking and communication skills, and should contribute to a sense of personal growth and development.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 311
ARTS 101C: Exploring Gender Creation in Literature, Music, and Film
Leaders: Daniel Bay and Melody Land
This course is a critical examination of the gender portrayal and construction in a survey of literature and music from classical Greece to the present, as well as contemporary cinema. The course examines this progression with an emphasis on sociological, psychological, and political frameworks. We begin with an introductory evaluation of gender theories, providing a lens through which the course is viewed. We explore theorists such as Simone De Beauvoir, John Stuart Mill, and Michel Foucault, followed by analysis of the writings of Jeanette Winterson, Euripides, Schopenhauer, Susan Douglass, and others. Music selections include various artists and genres, from opera to punk.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 411
ARTS 101A: Expanding Our Window on the World
Leaders: Donya Beaton and Kelly Miles
What enables us to have an informed view of the world? Through an exploration of cross-cultural perspectives, this course aims to broaden students’ global understanding by considering the diverse nature of current issues when seen from multiple cultural viewpoints. Within this global framework, students consider such topics as the role of religion and gender as an influence on cultural understanding; Nature, with a special emphasis on the environmental crisis; and issues of identity, with respect to community and ethnicity. Goals of the course are to improve students’ understanding of the cultural landscape through basic geography, to develop an appreciation of art as a means of expression, to compare and contrast cultural ways of understanding the current struggles occurring in the world today, and to explore strategies for approaching future global issues.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 211
ARTS 101B: Creating Controversy, Causing Conflict: Challenges to the Status Quo
Leaders: Laura Waddell and Grace Kimpinski
This course explores ways in which commonly held beliefs have been formed and challenged both historically and in the present day. It looks at people and events who have managed to go against the grain and have created change both globally and on a local level. It explores some of the following questions: Who has created controversy? How and why did that controversy begin? What can happen when a conflict occurs? Can one person affect change? What are some forms of protest? This course looks at a broad scope of people and events, such as Woodstock, Rosa Parks, non-violent protest, Hitler and the Nazi Regime, and Shirley Bear.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 311
Arts 101C: Changes in Public Understanding of Armed Conflict Since 1900
Leaders: Marcia O’Brien and Cassandra Armsworthy
This course offers a chronological look at developments in public understanding of war and armed conflict since 1900. It challenges students to look critically at the political, social, and cultural contexts of the Western World during this period. Contextual issues include gender roles, racial concerns, and social and literary movements such as pacifism and postmodernism. Changes in the presentation and perception of ideas are explored in class with various media, including music, art, poems, short stories, and excerpts from newspapers, radio, and television.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
K.C. Irving 202
ARTS 101A: Dangerous Minds: A Survey of Innovative Thought
Leaders: Sarah MacDonald and Melissa Vloet
This course introduces students to the lives and works of some of the most influential thinkers of our time. By exploring the lives of people such as Nelson Mandela, Evita Peron, Charles Darwin, Emily Murphy, and Sigmund Freud, students learn about diverse individuals who each have distinct histories and specific teachings, but who all share a passion for innovation and creativity. Students also study the art, history, music, social movements, and politics of the time through the use of biographies, novels, articles, and interactive technologies. The goals of this course are to challenge students to think critically about those individuals who defied the conventions in their fields, and to develop their ability to evaluate the successes and failures of these individuals.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 211
ARTS 101B: The Prince Edward Island Mosaic
Leaders: Valerie Campbell and Denise Lubbersen
What do the people of Prince Edward Island look like? Who are they and where did they come from? Is PEI a homogeneous society? These are some of the questions we answer as we explore the ethnic diversity of PEI. We look briefly at Island history and immigration patterns and examine current demographics. Students learn about the various ethnic groups on PEI and how they preserve their culture. The goal of this course is to help students recognize and gain a critical understanding of, and appreciation for, the cultural diversity of Prince Edward Islanders.
Wednesdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 311
ARTS 101C: The Arts of Conflict: The Humanities and Social Sciences as Windows in Understanding Struggle
Leaders: Mike Edmonds and Stacey Riley
Over the centuries, the most influential artworks, writings of fact and fiction, songs, and films have emerged in response to struggle or conflict, utilized as means of expression and as instruments of change. Students in this class explore historical conflicts through diverse media, discovering the interwoven nature of disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, and gaining a critical appreciation of the evolution of struggle over time. Media are selected predominantly from the Western world and texts range from 19th-century novels to modern best-sellers. A study of racial struggles, for example, may include such works as the film, The Color Purple, the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, and the book, White Over Black, by Winthrop Jordan. The scale of conflicts considered ranges from world, to social, to personal, and the struggles include dimensions of class, gender, race, religion, and economics.
Thursdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Main 211