UNIT 7

Unit 7: Music – Discussion

Ready for a virtual field trip? Follow this link to Austin City Limits: 

Home

 

Source: Austin City Limits. Retrieved from 

http://video.pbs.org/program/austin-city-limits/

 

Choose two artists that you have not heard before, then watch and listen to their featured songs.

Begin your post by providing the name of the two artists and the two songs to which you listened. Provide the links as well to both artist selections in your response; include APA formatting.

Next, one at a time, describe each selection, and answer the following questions for each.

1. What is the performance like? What style of music did the artists perform?

2. How do the musicians act?

3. Does the music impact you?

4. Does it resemble music you listen to regularly? Why or why not?

Seminar Option 2

This week’s reading refers to many standard-bearers of music: the people and groups you readily associate with a particular genre. In Seminar, you will discuss some of the genres and their standard bearers.

1. In your own words, how can you best define folk, ragtime, jazz, rock, pop, and hip hop music? Have they influenced each other or do they seem distinct?

2. Who do you see as being the new standard bearers in different genres? Why do you believe they achieve this status?

3. What do the standard bearers communicate about the time, place, culture, influences, and circumstances that lead to these musical expressions?

Unit 8: Cinema – Discussion

Topic 1 (of 2)

Watch the 20-minute short film

“

 

“Plastic Bag.”

 Click 

here

 to read a transcript.

Source: Futures Stes. Plastic Bag by Ramin Bahrani. Retrieved from  

http://futurestates.tv/episodes/plastic-bag

 

As you watch, evaluate how the film demonstrates elements from at least two other units in this course. For example, are there mythic elements? How are images used as art? What is the story and can you relate to it? Does the film offer a moral dilemma? How does music function in the film? How are happiness or freedom addressed?

In your response, address the “Plastic Bag” film, and connect the Unit 8 Janaro course text reading material. The reply should explain how the unit concepts are presented in the film and what we can learn from the analysis of film via other Humanities fields. Be specific with your examples of 2 Humanities topics and reading material connections; include APA formatting.

Topic 2 (of 2)

You have been hired as a film critic. Choose a movie you have seen that either reinforces stereotypes about groups of people, or works to break down those stereotypes. For example, what is the film’s portrayal of soldiers, nurses, minority groups, or members of certain religions? You do not need to discuss these groups, but use this as a list to get you thinking. Take a critical view and discuss what evidence is presented that leads us to conclusions about one group of people in the film. It may be helpful to refer to “A Word on Critical Viewing” at the end of this week’s reading.

Your response to the topic should include the following:

1. Identify the film; include a brief review of this movie, including a summary of the plot and discussion of the treatment of groups in the film

2. Provide an assessment of the overall message/intent of the film.

3. Incorporate a star rating for the film, ranging from 1 to 5 stars (with 1 meaning “Do not watch this film” and 5 meaning the film is “strongly recommended). In your response, provide the reader a clear understanding of your point, the connections to the presentation of stereotypes, and what you believe they communicate. Explain why you have rated this film with the star rating you selected.

In your post, provide a link for information about the film you have chosen such as the 

Internet Movie Database

, where your classmates can read more about the film.

Source: Internet Movie Database. Retrieved from: 

http://www.imdb.com/

 

Unit 9: Popular Culture and the Humanities – Discussion

Popular culture is all around us; in fact, it could be argued that this entire course emphasizes pop culture. You have defined and evaluated the major trends of 20th Century art, music, film, and literature, and you have also explored the figureheads behind theories of freedom, morality, and happiness. All of these contributions have been left behind as artifacts, telling you about the values of the past.

To connect your Unit 8 discussion to cinema, consider the film The Gods Must Be Crazy. This film is a comedy devoted to the premise of discovery and meaning. While flying over a remote corner of Africa, a pilot tosses out a soda bottle. The bottle is discovered by a man who has no idea what it is. Cut off from mass media, he believes it to be a message from the gods. He and his fellow villagers try to figure out what it could possibly mean.

For your response to the Unit 9 Discussion Board, imagine that someone cut off from mass culture finds an artifact from today’s culture, an item from popular culture. In your Discussion, consider the following points:

1. Explain what item you would like this person to find

2. Indicate what you hope this item would signify to them

3. Explain how you imagine this item could be interpreted. What might some of the possible uses for this item?

4. How is this item representative of pop culture?