WELCOME
TO
RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE HUMANITIES
AND
THE RAT PACK HOMEPAGE
OF
PRIMUS
I. Biographical Summary of Professor: Born in Tampa's Ybor City. Educated at a Liberal Arts college in Tennessee long, long ago. Completed graduate level study at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium before many of you were born. Married the right woman! Have 4 children (2 girls, 2 boys) old enough now to be my siblings. In the process of writing a book. Love yard work! Will even do windows! Will also work for food! Enjoy biking. Speak more than one language. Consider teaching my life. Have family in Europe, Canada, Asia, and South America. Am a wannabe writer, actor, poet, and radio commentator. Hoping that you will lower your guard, step up to the academic plate, take a swing with me, and hit a home run this session.
WELCOME TO MY WORLD!
II. Philosophy of Education: Here's what I'd really like you to know about my own intellectual journey as long as you promise never to forget what I'm about to tell you. Promise? Cross your heart and...? O.K., then, here it is in a nutshell: My philosophy of education includes the following components: (1) Content, (2) Method, and (3) Dialogue. You'll discover more about how I've learned to apply these personal "notes" in my own symphony of life as the course unfolds. For now, I'd like you to remember the following simple axioms: "Be Yourself", "Don't Wear Your Feelings On Your Sleeve", "Learn To Appreciate Diversity", "Talk To Me, I Wanna Know", and "Put The Ideas You Encounter Into Your Own Words". If you can actually put any of this stuff into practice, you'll discover what took me a lifetime to learn: PRACTICE MAKES IMPROVEMENT!!! So, whatdayawait'nfo? The real answers are already inside of you!
III. Course Policies: This is really easier than skydiving and chewing bubblegum at the same time! There are only four important points in this "score" to remember. Here they are: (1) Be Here; (2) Do Your Work; (3) Talk To Me; and (4) Respect Others. Of course, there's more to all of this than meets the "baton", like if and when you force me to call my Mafia contacts in Tampa's Ybor City to get you back on track. Then you'll truly understand how important these simple rules of the classroom are. Otherwise, you might have to take a short walk with me down to Lake Pamela. Just remember to kiss your mother good-bye! It's the Italian way, baby! Got it?
IV. Course Requirements: Your gonna have to read the book as well as complete in-class and out-of-class assignments without complaining! Know what I mean? This will require a real effort on your part. Giving me a piece of your mind every time we come together for "show and tell" or the "dog and pony show" is more important than you or your mother could ever imagine. The rest will fall into place as the course unfolds or my grandmother's name wasn't Rosina!
V. Important Session Dates: Take a look at the Academic Calendar for 2006-07 for these important dates. It'll tell you everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask! I don't wanna hear about how you gotta miss class because your friends are flying in to the airport and you gotta be at the gate to pick'em up. Let'em walk! O.K.?
VI. Things To Remember: Here they are: (1) "Man Who Take Few Notes Now, Get Big Shock Later" (Confucius); and (2) "The Important Thing Is Never To Stop Questioning" (Albert Einstein). If you can find a way to store and retrieve these two insights as well as the other stuff in the five paragraphs above, you'll be well on your way to a stellar performance of your own original symphony!
CIAO, BABY!
"Learn everything; you will see afterwards that nothing is superfluous", Hugh of St. Victor (1096-1141)
1. Course Description: This Spring Session 2-2007 course is a survey of the Western Humanities from the end of the Middle Ages through the periods of rebirth, renewal, and revolution in the arts, religion, society, and science which ushered in the modern Western World (see Valencia College Catalog, 2006-2007, for further information). Of particular interest in this course will be the examination of Renaissance art and the idea of the "artist", the debates over the nature of true Christianity during the Reformation, and the Baroque era which brought dazzling artistic achievements, astounding scientific discoveries, abominable religious warfare, and the horrific perversity of the Inquisition. The humanities uses an interdisciplinary approach to better comprehend the intellectual and cultural history of civilization. We will examine literature, philosophy, religion, politics, art, architecture, music, science, and technology in order to understand the ideas which interpenetrate these disciplines, uniting and inspiring the endeavors of the mind.
2. Essential to the Completion of this Course: (1) Careful reading of all assigned material before the class in which it will be discussed; (2) A readiness to participate in class dialogue, or at least listening and reflecting on the topic of discussion regardless of who the speaker is; and (3) A genuine effort on writing assignments and the desire to improve your ability at communicating your insights through the written and spoken word.
3. Prerequisites: Students must have passed Composition I or its equivalent with a grade of "C" or better before enrolling in this course.
4. Gordon Rule: Students will be required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments.
5. Course Requirements:
6. Evaluation Criteria:
Narrative Style: 15%
Content: 50%
Self-Expression: 35%
7. All course work will be evaluated according to the following scale:
A=100-90
B=89-80
C=79-60
D=59-50
F=49-00
8. Special Policies: (1) All reference to college policies and procedures are based on the 2006-2007 Valencia College Catalog; (2) All students are expected to arrive for class on time and to remain for the duration of the class unless exceptions have been granted by the consent of the professor based on a reasonable explanation; (3) All assigned work must be submitted on time. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED; (4) The activation of pagers and cellular phones during class is prohibited. Your cooperation is respectfully requested; (5) Students are responsible for noting important dates related to the current session based on the official college calendar; (6) If you have special classroom needs related to your academic career at Valencia, please do not hesitate to let me know; and (7) All examination dates and other changes in the course may be made at the discretion of the professor, usually in writing.
9. CLAST Skills: Florida Statutes and the rules of the State Board of Education require students to demonstrate proficiency in communication and computation. To assist students in preparing for the CLAST, this course will reinforce the following skills: (1) Reading, including literal and critical comprehension as well as essay skills; and (2) English Language, including word choice, sentence structure as well as grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation skills. See the Valencia College Catalog, 2006-2007, for further information.
10. Valencia Student Core Competencies: This course will help students develop and refine the following core competencies which are essential to lifelong success: (1) Think; (2) Value; (3) Communicate; and (4) Act. Development of these competencies will enable students to set and assess learning goals across many disciplines of human inquiry. See the Valencia College Catalog, 2006-2007, for further information.
11. Personal Information: Students are cordially invited to call or contact the professor at anytime based on the following important numbers and/or addresses: (1) Office: West Campus, 5-120; (2) Office Telephone Number: 1-407-299-5000, extension 1468 (includes voice mail) or 1300 for department secretary; and (3) Group Wise E-mail: jscolaro@valenciacollege.edu.
RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE HUMANITIES (HUM2232): COURSE OUTLINE
UNIT I: THE RENAISSANCE IN EUROPE
UNIT II: ALTERNATE INTERPRETATIONS
UNIT III: SOCIETY AND SELF
UNIT IV: THE REVOLUTION IN SCIENCE
UNIT V: THE BAROQUE
Het Einde!