HONR 300A Hitchcock's Cinema
(4 credits)
Inboden, Robin
Don't get in the shower! Actually, you probably won't be afraid of taking a shower after dissecting the editing of the famous scene in Psycho, and you'll also have a much better sense of the real cinema of Alfred Hitchcock. Many viewers familiar only with Psycho and The Birds don't realize that they are late and somewhat anomalous entries in the great director's oeuvre. The real Hitchcock is about suspense, yes, but even more about questions of romance, trust, morality, insecurity, and self-definition. And all these issues are explored in visual images, words, music, and symbolism that make Hitchcock truly worthy of his label as auteur (we'll learn about that, too). Furthermore, Hitchcock’s career spans the silent era, the studio era, and the rise of independent filmmaking, allowing us an opportunity to learn firsthand about the historical and technological shifts of filmmaking as an art form in the twentieth century.
The class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, but there will also be showings of each week's movies on Monday evenings, so figure that into your schedule. (If you have an unavoidable conflict with the Monday showing, however, don't worry; you'll be able to watch the movies in the library on your own time, as well.) We will spend some time on basic film terminology and theory at first, then work through some of Hitchcock's greatest films chronologically. The written work will include several short papers or projects and a longer paper on a topic of the student's devising. We will end by discussing some contemporary films that bear the stamp of Hitchcock's influence.
This course may be counted in place of ENGL 180A by English majors and minors. Writing intensive.
HONR 300H American Art
(4 credits)
Gimenez-Berger, Alejandra
This course will survey the most important paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and architecture created in America from the colonial through the contemporary periods. While emphasis will be placed on the study of artistic styles and individual artists, the course will explore the historical and cultural circumstances of artistic production. Consideration of the political, economic, and social conditions of creation will lead to debates concerning the functions of art throughout American history and issues such as collective and individual identities, the commodification of art, art as revolution, and censorship. Writing intensive.
HONR 300R Bioethics
(4 credits)
Nelson, Paul
This seminar introduces students to basic concepts and contemporary discussions in bioethics. Topics may include organ procurement, abortion, reproductive technologies, euthanasia, use of human subjects in research, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research, autonomy, consent, truth telling and deception, confidentiality, access to health care, rationing, allocation of scarce resources, use of animals in research, and environmental concerns. The readings from a wide variety of disciplines - medicine, law, economics, and literature as well as philosophical and religious ethics. Oral presentations and papers will develop students’ ability to identify moral issues, analyze moral arguments, and make and defend moral judgments. Writing intensive.
