Chabot College
Fall 2006
Course Outline for Humanities 65
THE AMERICAN STYLE
Catalog Description:
65 - The American Style
3 units
Humanities of the United States. Major works of literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, films,
music, philosophy, science, religion and political and social institutions. Particular attention to values
and meanings that reflect the American cultural experience, specifically the crisscrossing dynamics of
race, ethnicity, gender, religion and class in American society. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
describe the arts and letters;
distinguish what is primarily national within himself/herself from what is individual;
demonstrate a new or different understanding of both himself/herself and his/her country;
interpret and describe what makes specific works of the arts and letters “American.”
Course Content:
1. Literature of the United States. Close examination and analysis of selected works of literature in
the forms of the novel, lyric poetry and drama drawn from the 19th and 20th centuries.
2. Visual Arts of the United States. Analysis and appreciation of major works of painting, sculpture,
architecture, etc., with the purpose of developing the tools for aesthetic and expressive
appreciation of American art. Thirty-five millimeter slides will be used and will concentrate on
works drawn from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
3. Philosophy and science of the United States. Selected philosophical works from W. James,
Emerson, John Dewey, and others will be examined and analyzed to develop a good
understanding of how philosophical ideas shaped the American character and society.
4. Film and music of the United States. Films such as Citizen Kane and westerns will be viewed and
discussed to determine how they reflect and symbolize American social and ethical values.
5. Political and social institutions of the United States. Documents such as the Declaration of
Independence, the Bill of Rights and concepts such as the sovereignty of the people, public
opinion, etc., will be closely examined to determine their meaning in the context of American
society.
6. Across all disciplines mentioned, discussion and analysis of the incorporation of, impact on, and
contributions of diverse racial/ethnic (e.g., African Americans, European Americans, Native
Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and Middle Eastern Americans), gender
and socioeconomic groups.
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture, class inquiry, occasional papers
2. Discussion
3. Field trips
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. In an essay, identify and differentiate forms and historical periods of literature
b. Using research, create a tape or give a speech in which you discuss the themes of an artist’s
work in relation to what is American about these themes and their aesthetic value
c. In a researched speech or essay, show how philosophical ideas shaped the American
character and society
Chabot College
Course Outline for Humanities 65, Page 2
Fall 2006
d. In a research paper explain how film and music reflect and symbolize American social and
ethical values
e. Maintain a newspaper clipping journal that illustrates the interaction of political and social
institutions and the guiding documents (and concepts) of the U.S. A.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Research paper
b. Class participation
c. Assignments, quizzes, and examinations
d. Journals or audio- or videotape
e. Final examination
Textbook(s) Typical:
Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, Vintage, 2001.
Special Student Material:
None
CM:kh Hum10 Revised: 09/30/05