OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
I.
II.
Course
Prefix
Course
Number
Course
Name
HUM
122
Contemporary
Culture and the Arts
Credit
3
Lecture
3
Lab
0
Prerequisites:
None
III.
Course (Catalog) Description:
Course concentrates on culture and arts of the last fifty years, with focus on
appreciation and critical evaluation of contemporary culture. Content provides
interdisciplinary perspectives on literature, music, drama, visual arts, architecture, TV,
film, and cultural theory, as well as forces that influence the arts. IAI HF 901
IV.
Learning Objectives:
After completing the class, students will be able to:
A. Describe some important cultural, intellectual and artistic developments of the
last sixty years.
B. Explain and appraise the global interconnections and dimensions of these
developments and exemplify the rich cultural diversity of our contemporary
culture.
C. Identify, interpret and assess some major contemporary works from a minimum
of four distinct art forms – taken from literature, performing arts, music, visual
arts, architecture, photography, film, television and digital or cybernetic art.
D. Recognize the elements of the basic art forms presented and the
interrelationships of these art forms.
E. Analyze and evaluate some acknowledged art works using the basic analytical
and critical vocabulary associated with the art forms studied.
F. Analyze and evaluate these cultural, intellectual and artistic works in their
historical, social, political, and economic contexts.
G. Explain cultural theory, identify and describe the main concepts in a variety of
theoretical approaches and apply some of these concepts in debates about
important ideas regarding the production of art and its relationship to culture.
H. Exhibit values related to teamwork and collaboration, fostered by the
pedagogy of shared-inquiry and critical dialogue appropriate to the humanities
and philosophy.
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HUM 122
V.
Academic Integrity:
Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate
academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code
prohibits:
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cheating,
plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
helping others to cheat,
unauthorized changes on official documents,
pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s
policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against
you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the
assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office
of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI.
Outline of Topics:
(The instructor may elect to organize the class according to historical development in
the arts, by individual art forms, by geographical region, or by contemporary issues.
The instructor’s outline should specify the dates when specific topics will be covered
and should list important dates such as exams and paper deadlines.)
Sample of an outline organized by art form—a unit on each of the following:
Cultural Theory
The Visual Arts: Painting, sculpture, photography, graphic and design arts.
The Performing Arts: Theater, TV, Film, Performance Art
Music: Popular music, hip hop, salsa, world music, jazz, classical music.
Literature: Poetry, short stories, novels, graphic novels
Sample organized by topic—a unit on each of the following:
Representations of Violence in Contemporary Visual, Performing and Literary Arts
The Arts, Race, and Gender
Art, Politics and Freedom of Expression
The Debate over Postmodernism
The Impact of Globalization and Post Colonialism on Diverse Contemporary Art Forms
The Future of the Arts
Sample organized by a geographical region—a unit on each of the following:
Architecture in Chicago
Public Art in Chicago
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HUM 122
Blues, Rap and Hip-hop in Chicago
Contemporary Theater in Chicago
VII.
Methods of Instruction:
Course may be taught as a face-to-face, media-based, hybrid, or online course.
The course will involve lectures, as well as seminar style discussions and small group
activities. Students will listen to music, view slides, and when appropriate, view
sections of videos. Students will be expected to participate actively and to come
prepared for discussion. This means students should have read all assigned material
prior to class meetings. Students will also be expected to participate in field trips to
concerts, plays, art exhibitions, and similar events.
VIII. Course Practices Required:
(Please include information here about expectations you have for your students
regarding behavior, work, etc. The following are sample topics you may wish to cover.
Please be aware that Illinois state guidelines require students in this course to produce
at least 15 pages of critical written assignments over the course of the semester. These
may be assigned in a variety of ways including journals, response papers, field trip
projects, etc.)
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IX.
Attendance
Standards for written work
Quizzes/Exams
Participation
Essays
Final Project
Special policies about make-up exams, late papers, or other matters of concern
Instructional Materials:
Note: Current textbook information for each course and section is available on
Oakton’s Schedule of Classes.
(The choice of specific instructional materials – books, films, artworks, articles, music,
TV, videos, etc is at the discretion of the instructor. This choice should reflect a
commitment to the interdisciplinary nature of the class. What follows is a list of sample
materials.)
General Texts and Anthologies
Ashcroft (editor), The Post-Colonial Studies Reader
Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, Volume 6
Jameson and Miyoshi (editors), The Cultures of Globalization
Literature
Kushner, Angels in America
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HUM 122
McClatchey (editor), Vintage Book of World Poetry
Morrison, Beloved
Rushdie, Midnight’s Children
Satrapi, Persepolis
Wilson, Fences
Film
Avatar
Blow-Up
Cholay
Chung King Express
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Music
Bohlman, World Music: A Very Short Introduction
Strode and Wood (editors), HipHop Reader
Art
Berger, Ways of Seeing
Freeland, But is it Art?
Sontag, Regarding the Pain of Others
Theory
Anzaldua, Borderlands
Barber, Jihad Verses McWorld
Hooks, Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations
Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man
Said, Selections from Reflections of Exile
X.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
(In this section, please present the percentages or point breakdown of their final grade.
The writing assignments should count for at least 40% of the final grade. An example
follows.)
Quizzes/Exams……40 points
Essays/Reviews……40 points
Final project with oral presentation……10 points
Attendance and participation………10 points
Grading scale: 90-100, A…….80-89, B………70-79, C……….60-69……..D
XI.
Other Course Information:
A. Disabilities
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be
entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request
accommodations or services contact the Access and Disability Resource Center at the
COURSE SYLLABUS (GENERIC)
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HUM 122
Des Plaines or Skokie campus. All students are expected to fulfill essential course
requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course
or degree program.
B. Discrimination
The Oakton Community College Catalog states:
Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in
admission to and participation in its educational programs, activities and services, or
employment practices. The College does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual
assault by or of its students or employees.
In keeping with this policy of tolerance and non-discrimination, in this class all of us
(myself included) should strive to listen and give careful consideration to all ideas
expressed in class, especially those that are different from our own, without attacking
or demeaning the people who have those views. We should also strive to avoid using
insulting terms or telling offensive jokes when talking to or about individuals or groups.
C. Instructor information
 Office and office hours:
 Phone:
 Email and website:
Approval Dates:
(Faculty: Do not include the following information on your individual syllabi created for class
distribution.)
Effective beginning term:
Fall 2013
Ending term:
Syllabus prepared by: Hollace Graff
Date: March 2006
Revised by:
Date: June 2010
Briones, Mehdi, Graff
Reviewed by Chair:
Hollace Graff
Date: July 2010
Approval by Dean:
Linda Korbel
Date
June 2013