189H Seminars - Fall 2021

This course covers the history of photography from its inception to today through slide lectures, discussions, and activities as outlined. Emphasis is the practice of photography and the individual photographer’s development in the history of the medium. Discussion surrounding the social, political, and artistic uses of photography and imaging are also a major component of the class. Slide lectures cover art photography, documentary, editorial, fashion, feminist, post-modern, multicultural, and digital photography. This class also includes a field trip, two exams, creation of response photographs, written reflection essays, and project in conjunction with a research paper and class presentation.

This course surveys the history of video art from its inception in the 1960s to today through lectures, partial and full-length video screenings, discussions, two exams, and visual and written activities. Emphasis is the development of video art as a genre and its practitioners from fluxus, conceptual, structural, feminist, postmodern, deconstruction, multi-cultural, globalization, postcolonial, identity politics, to environmental viewpoints. Lectures situate works of video art and artists through historical and theoretical contexts. Discussions uncover social, political, and artistic intentions and frameworks. The visual making and written activities develop critical thinking about ideas and concepts. Any digital moving image camera is suitable for this class (from cell phone to HD recorder). Basic introduction to camera controls, techniques, and editing software are covered. Completion of this course enables the student to understand, criticize, problem-solve, and construct considered solutions, whether concepts or moving image manifestations. There are no prerequisites for this course.

In this course, we will read and discuss approximately five books describing various aspects of evolution, genetics, cells, the genome and genome modifications. This may include such works as “The Beak of the Finch” by Jonathan Weiner, “Life Ascending” by Nick Lane, “A Crack in Creation” by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg, and “A Life Decoded” by J. Craig Venter. Other topics involving the intersection of genetics and evolution may also be covered. Because this is an ACE4 course, we will focus on the scientific method, framing and testing hypotheses, interpretation of data, and drawing and evaluating conclusions. The scientific method is central to all of these topics, and students are expected to thoroughly understand it, and be able to discuss the topics within this framework. Evaluation of student accomplishments will be done by a class presentation, a debate, written assignments, discussion in class, and a final paper.

Americans cherish the right to say what they think—but they also value other things such as justice, privacy, decency and fairness. Sometimes freedom of expression collides with one of those other rights we value, leading to some interesting and complex conflicts. The right to express ourselves is specifically delineated in the First Amendment and interpreted in hundreds of laws and court cases since the U.S. Constitution was written. This seminar examines the benefits—and costs—of freedom of expression in various parts of American culture. The course stresses that the right to freedom of expression applies to all citizens, not only to the media. Students will be expected to do frequent writing in various formats and to make occasional oral presentations.

What does it mean to be under surveillance? To be part of a surveillance culture? To live in a surveillance state? How have the internet and the rise of big tech companies changed the possibilities for and enactment of total societal surveillance? And, in the modern state, how do factors such as government, race, and gender inflect the practices of surveillance? This course will explore such questions. We will consider how the topic of surveillance has been addressed and represented in literary works and films from the last hundred years by authors from North America and Europe. We will engage in theoretical reflections on the practice of surveillance using a selections from a set of touchstone critical works. Finally, we will draw on our primary and critical readings plus articles from the contemporary press to reflect on the evolution of surveillance practices from the early twentieth century to the present. As part of this, we will give particular attention to how a range of contemporary technologies have enabled commercially-led surveillance on a scale never before possible in human history.

This class will explore Viking culture, looking at several aspects including their role as fearsome conquerors and explorers, their relationships with other cultures and peoples through trade, and the influence of their faith systems on their culture, as well as how they viewed these figures of myth and legend that have lived on to today in various forms.

In this class, we will learn about creative and talented people in various domains and explore the psychological, environmental, social, and biological factors that lead to the development of their creativity and/or talent. This field of study offers many implications for self-growth and education. Students read texts and articles, interview talented in-class guests, complete a book report and article summary, and conduct a small research project.

We all know that zombies aren’t real… right? But what about a parasite that makes mice lose their fear of cats and end up as lunch? Or a virus that makes people terrified of a glass of water? In this class, we’ll sort the fact from the fiction and explore the wonderfully weird world of the brain. Using cases of both real and fictional disorders, we will explore the ways in which the typical brain functions. Along the way we will cover common neuroscience methodologies, important historical contributions, and relevant current theories. By the end of this course you will have developed a broad understanding of the field of neuroscience and be well prepared to repel a zombie apocalypse, should one occur.

For over one hundred years we have been enthralled by the movies! Undoubtedly film is the central mode of artistic cultural expression in our world today. Much of our social discourse revolves around our shared experiences of the cinema. In this course, students will explore the worlds of film by 1. Watching; 2. Reading (both films and screenplays); 3. Contextualizing; 4. Talking (in class discourse); 5. Writing (both analytically and creatively), and, last but not least, 6. Enjoying the pleasures of the cinema. This Honors seminar will introduce students to the art of film and the craft of screenwriting; key moments of film history and the social, historical, and artistic context surrounding the films; and, through the reading of screenplays, how films develop from page to screen. Students will not only watch some of the great films of the last 100 years, but they will also learn how to read films as “texts,” by applying analytical and critical methods to their viewing of films. As we view/read the films, students will also have the opportunity to read a number of screenplays (and a few short novels) to learn the craft of screenwriting, and they will write their own short screenplay as one of their class projects. Students will also learn the craft of the film review by writing two film reviews during the course of the semester.

In areas of musical and artistic creativity, digital media has become an important aural and visual palette for expression. The ability to be creative and communicate in an expressive and compelling manner are also important skills in today’s world. The iPad has transformed both the process and product of musical creation. This seminar seeks to (1) understand the expressive aspects of music as an art form through learning to compose and create original music, (2) develop and equip students with the skills and knowledge to use personal and multimedia technology within the context of musical and artistic creation and scholarship, and (3) be an active participant in the research/creative process of the development and deployment of new technologies. NOTE: This seminar requires each student to have access to an Apple iPad. For those enrolled students that do not have an iPad, one will be made available for checkout as well as access to creativity software/hardware for music production, graphic design, and video production.

In this course we will use foundational theories to unpack and understand cultural rituals of performance and play, such as festivals, immersive theatre, video games, and sports. We will investigate the function of performance and play in society, communities, and in our daily lives; we will also investigate how performance and play impact the formation and expression of individual and cultural identities around the globe. We will also look at the role of history, economics, and technology in the international production and circulation of cultural rituals, as well as examine and appreciate their material and aesthetic compositions, narrative representations, and entertainment values. While we will use writing, research, and discussion as our main modes of inquiry, we will also interact with these cultural rituals firsthand through viewing performances and documentaries and playing video games as a part of our course work.

Popular music’s visual marketing permeates our culture, with songwriters and bands using images and music videos to catch our attention. But music is made for ears, and pop songs deserve to be considered on their own purely musical terms. In this class we’ll listen to a wide variety of songs—Frank Sinatra to the Beach Boys to Stevie Wonder to Ben Folds to Taylor Swift—and many others in between. We will figure out what makes a great song great, and how new ways of listening can deepen your enjoyment of your favorite music.

Throughout time, human beings have been fascinated with music. Research in the psychology of music has uncovered much regarding how musicians acquire the ability to convey emotional intentions as sounded music, how listeners perceive it as feelings and moods, and how this powerful process relates to social and cultural dynamics. This course addresses these broad themes, giving specific attention to topics such as: development and learning, motivation, expressivity and artistic interpretation, creativity, performance anxiety, listener preferences and emotional response, and the roles of music in society.

Music making is one of the most important creative processes experienced by people throughout the world. In this class we will explore various types of music made across the globe and how each culture incorporates music into their daily lives. In addition, we will examine the role of the ethnomusicologist and the various ways in which ethnomusicology contributes to our understanding of music. In order to investigate these diverse topics more thoroughly, we will read and discuss texts that engage the music from (for instance) economic, political, social, racial, and gender perspectives. Further, we will experience the music itself through a variety of interactive and participatory media. The class will culminate with a musical ethnography project and presentation wherein students will have the opportunity to explore music making in the greater Lincoln community.

As the global population grows, and our world becomes increasingly interconnected via processes of globalization, our social and natural worlds are becoming further interwoven. International travel creates a pathway for previously limited outbreaks of disease to spread. The internet creates a pathway for the illumination of once hidden social and ecological crimes. This course will explore contemporary public and environmental health case studies from around the world through the lens of environmental justice. Environmental justice involves the fair and equal treatment and involvement of all people in efforts to care for and access environmental resources. We will investigate current cases of environmental concern in urban areas, remote indigenous communities, local and international law, and the development of local and international public health practices and collaborative efforts.

In this course we will use foundational theories to unpack and understand cultural rituals of performance and play, such as festivals, immersive theatre, video games, and sports. We will investigate the function of performance and play in society, communities, and in our daily lives; we will also investigate how performance and play impact the formation and expression of individual and cultural identities around the globe. We will also look at the role of history, economics, and technology in the international production and circulation of cultural rituals, as well as examine and appreciate their material and aesthetic compositions, narrative representations, and entertainment values. While we will use writing, research, and discussion as our main modes of inquiry, we will also interact with these cultural rituals firsthand through viewing performances and documentaries and playing video games as a part of our course work.

In this class, we will learn about notable American trials where sex, gender, race/ethnicity, or disability of a primary character is integral to the legal action. We will then critically evaluate Hollywood’s rendition of those legal events. During the course of the semester, we will learn about legal aspects of trials that that hinge upon complex issues of social identity and what their big screen adaptations reveal about American attitudes towards the legal issues at the heart of these court battles.

Note: This class is offered in web-conferencing format, which means all students join the class on Zoom at the designated times each week.

In this course, we will read and analyze the text of Shakespeare and examine how Shakespeare's plays are adapted into performances around the world. Centered on four of Shakespeare's major works - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Twelfth Night - we will explore global approaches to the Comedies and Tragedies through multiple mediums (including theatre, film, and video games), time periods, and cultural lenses. We will investigate how and why the language, characters, and stories in Shakespeare transcend generational and geographic divides, and how the continued translation and transformation of Shakespeare impacts the formation and expression of cultural identities around the globe.

Music making is one of the most important creative processes experienced by people throughout the world. In this class we will explore various types of music made across the globe and how each culture incorporates music into their daily lives. In addition, we will examine the role of the ethnomusicologist and the various ways in which ethnomusicology contributes to our understanding of music. In order to investigate these diverse topics more thoroughly, we will read and discuss texts that engage the music from (for instance) economic, political, social, racial, and gender perspectives. Further, we will experience the music itself through a variety of interactive and participatory media. The class will culminate with a musical ethnography project and presentation wherein students will have the opportunity to explore music making in the greater Lincoln community.