Comparative Arts Minor
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The Comparative Arts concentration surveys some of the fundamental aspects of music, literature, culture, and art; such as the nature of aesthetic judgement, the task of art, literature and music criticism, including formalist, representational, and contemporary theories on viewing, analyzing, and interpreting the arts. In addition, with comparative analysis between the modes of visual, literary, and aura representation, different aspects of artistic theories are investigated. The concentration analyzes the principal forms and genres of the visual, literary, and aural elements in various cultural disciplines, providing and understanding for human creativity and expression.
Coordinator: Dr. Liana Cheney, Professor of Art History [Department of Cultural Studies]
Liana_Cheney@uml.edu
Coburn Hall, Room 201
Phone: 978-934-3495
Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a Comparative Arts Concentration consists of the following:
- a selection of two disciplines or concentrations within the BLA list of concentrations. One of the concentrations must be Comparative Arts [24 to 30 credits]
- a second concentration is selected according to the student's interest [24 to 30 credits]
- a completion of the competency requirement [12 credits].
- an overall GPA of 2.5 is required
- no minor is permitted
42.210 Drama
42.211 Poetry
42.218 Comedy
42.219 Tragedy
42.230 Film Classics
42.276 Irish American Literature
45.311 Philosophy and Literature
46.315 Politics of Arts and Culture
46.317 Politics and Music
45.333 Symbols and Society
48.260 Mass Media & Communications
52.335 Cinema and the Italian Americans
50.376 French Cinema and Society
53.314 Philosophy and Science Fiction
58.101 Art Appreciation
58.105 Comparative Arts
58.300 Art History, Music and Culture
58.305 Theater in the Visual Arts
58.370 Art History and Film
59.494 Directed Studies in Comparative Arts
59.495 Advanced Tutorial in Comparative Arts
59.496 Practicum in Comparative Arts
74.356 American Musical Theater
74.466 Music of the Early Twentieth Century
42.210 Drama
a study of plays from classical period to the present.
42.211 Poetry
A study of poems from the Renaissance to the present.
42.218 Comedy
A study of the theory and the practice of comedy from Geek writers to the present.
42.219 Tragedy
a study of the theory and the practice of tragedy from Greek writers to the present.
42.230 Film Classics
A study of the elements of film as revealed in selected film classics. Emphasis on the critical analysis and evaluation.
42.276 Irish American Literature
A study of fiction, drama, poetry and popular culture of the American Irish from immigration to the present.
45.311 Philosophy and Literature
This course will explore various philosophical themes through literary and philosophical writings. We will discuss philosophical issues such as the relationship between individuals and society, knowledge and truth, ethics, personal identity and oppression. In the process of using both philosophical and literary texts to address these issues, we will examine the distinction between philosophy and literature.
46.315 Politics of Arts and Culture
An analysis of political and theoretical perspectives in arts and culture.
46.317 Politics and Music
A study of the transformative power of music through live musical performance. Analyzes several musical genres and places them in their broader historical context.
45.333 Symbols and Society
A central task is the philosophical examination of a variety of social symbols (verbal, visual and praxic) in terms of their relations to modes of social control or influence and to perceptions of social realities. Topics to be considered include myth, folklore, painting, photography, advertising and propaganda.
48.260 Mass Media & Communications
Course investigates the structure of mass communications and the impact of the media on our lives. A full range of media are considered including television, radio, cinema and the press. The potential impact of new media sources are also considered.
52.335 Cinema and the Italian Americans
A course looking at the ways in which film addresses issues of ethnicity and its representation in the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural memory of American life. This will be an interdisciplinary course focusing on the relentless portrayal in the news and entertainment industries of Italian Americans. It will shed light on the contributions of this ethnic group by analyzing the negative and positive stereotypes through films. Conducted in English.
50.376 French Cinema and Society
Covers the dramatic presentation French society gives of itself during the period of profound social and economic change, from the New Wave and the May 68 events to today’s younger generation facing an uncertain tomorrow. Each screening (in French with subtitles) is preceded by an introduction placing the film in its historical context. Conducted in English.
53.314 Philosophy and Science Fiction
This course is an exploration and analysis of the philosophical issues embedded in science fiction literature, film, and television shows. The philosophical themes addressed are: the nature of time, causality, minds, personal identity, ethics and the meaning of life.
58.101 Art Appreciation
The course introduces the student to the technical, aesthetic and historical aspects of architecture, sculpture and painting. An analysis of the visual elements used in fine arts such as color, line, shape, texture and principles of design are developed through slide lectures, museum visits and assigned readings. In addition, students investigate the purposes of art and visual communication and develop a heightened sense of critical thinking that allows them to investigate successfully different modes of representation, styles and media in a multicultural society.
58.105 Comparative Arts
This course studies the aesthetic, artistic and intellectual similarities between art history and music history. Discussion of the arts focuses on the development in examining the human creativity and expression through the arts: from ancient times as ‘art and morality’ followed in the Renaissance as ‘art and sciences’ continued in the Enlightenment as ‘art and society’ contrasted in the nineteenth century as ‘art and entertainment.’ Furthermore, this course surveys some of the fundamental aspects of music and art, such as the nature of aesthetic judgment, the task of art and music criticism, including formalist, representational, and contemporary theories on viewing, analyzing, and interpreting the arts. In addition, with a comparative analysis between the modes of visual and aural representation, visual and aural perception, this course analyzes the principal forms and genres of the visual and aural elements of art history and music history, providing an understanding for human creativity and expression.
58.205 Studies in World Art
Historical and critical examination of regions works of art from China, Asia, India, Africa, North America, Latin America, and Mexico. Topics vary from year to year. Course may be repeated. Pre-requisite: permission of instructor. Spring, alternate years. 3 cr.
58.205(A) Mexican Muralists
Examination the dominance of Mexican Muralists in the visual and aesthetic culture in Latin America in the early twentieth century. Discussion on the implication of the social revolution and political sentiments on Mexican murals representations. Also stylistic and iconographical analysis of the Muralists, such as Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo as well as Frida Kahlo, will be studied in relation to past muralist traditions.
58.205(B) Primitive Art: Method and Theory
The purpose of this course is to provide a general overview of the art of the traditional cultures of Africa, North America and the South Pacific. This overview will be presented within a critical framework that questions the relationship between "civilized" viewers and so-called "primitive" art.
58.205(C) Asian Art
The purpose of this course is to provide a general overview of the art of the traditional cultures of Asia, China, India and Japan. This survey provides a critical and historical examination of these cultures.
58.300 Art, Music and Culture
This course studies the aesthetic, artistic and intellectual similarities between art history and culture in western and non-western civilizations. Discussion of the arts focuses on the development in examining the human creativity and expression through the arts: from ancient times as 'art and morality' followed in the Renaissance as 'art and sciences' continued in the Enlightenment as 'art and society' contrasted in the nineteenth century as 'arts for arts sake' and arriving to the twentieth century as 'art and entertainment.'
In addition this course addresses four cultural currents in the history of art and ideas, such as Classicism, Christianity, Romanticism and Modernism. Furthermore, this course surveys some of the fundamental aspects of art history and culture, such as the nature of aesthetic judgment, the task of art and music criticism, including formalist, representational, and contemporary theories on viewing, analyzing, and interpreting the arts. In addition, with a comparative analysis between the modes of visual and aura representation, visual and aura perception, this course analyzes the principal forms and genres of the visual and aural elements of art history and music history, providing an understanding for human creativity and expression.
58.305 Theater in the Arts
Students will explore the ways in which theater and the visual arts enhance and stimulate language acquisition and critical literacy development as well as promote the development of a sense of historical awareness and cultural identity.
58.370 Art History and Film
Examination of issues of content, theory and criticism in traditional, modern and contemporary live of artists, autobiographies, biographies and historiographies as source of filmic expression. Focus on the interpretation and transformation of art historical records into filmic vision as revealed in set and costume design, music, camera technique and other aesthetic elements of film, as well as how such elements function to extend and convey directorial vision to movements in art history. Prerequisite: 58.203 and 58.204 or permission of art history instructor.
59.494 Directed Studies in Comparative Arts
An individual supervised research project relating to issues in comparative arts. Research result to be presented in a significant paper. Prerequisite: demonstrated proficiency in an area selected for directed studies and permission of coordinator.
59.495 Advanced Tutorial in Comparative Arts
A program of directed studies which affords the advanced student with an additional opportunity to pursue a previously explored problem in greater depth or to initiate and investigate an additional problem. The purpose is to sharpen and refine skills for scholarly research and presentation. Prerequisite: demonstrated proficiency in an area selected for directed studies and permission of coordinator.
59.496 Practicum in Comparative Arts
A program of on-campus and/or off-campus experiences for comparative arts students only. Specific requirements will vary depending upon department policies and the nature of the program undertaken by the student. The intent of the practicum experience is to provide an occasion for investigation of a community, social, cultural or artistic area and for applying techniques of problem solving and/or credits. Students will be graded "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." Prerequisite: demonstrated proficiency in an area selected and permission of coordinator.
74.356 American Musical Theater (Music)
A contextual study of the American stage musical and its development from the late 18th century to the present.
74.466 Music of the Early Twentieth Century
The course traces the changes in attitude about the public participation of women in music during the course of the 20th century and investigates the music that women composed. Students learn basic concepts about music, allowing them to come to their own conclusions about the musical works. Interviews with women who compose or perform test the material presented in the course readings.