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It’s The End of the World As We Know It
I.
Course description
It’s the year 2001…the beginning
of the end or the end of the beginning? Using the inspiration provided by the
apocalypse, we will be able to cover all areas of what we will term The Modern
Age. Examining postmodernism, we will be able to envelop ourselves in the literature,
art, philosophy, history, music, and cinema of the past 50 to 100 years (or
so). We will, very simply, be able to see in a glance where we were, where
we are, and where we are going.
II. Instructor’s
educational preparation and current employment
Brian Stuhlman
- Educational Preparation:
Bachelor of Science Degree, Education (emphasis: Language Arts) from the
University of Missouri – Columbia. Degree and Certification awarded: May
1999.
- Current Employment:
Fayette High School, Fayette R-III School District, 705 Lucky Street, Fayette,
MO 65248. Ph: 660-248-2124
III. Rationale
for inclusion in a program for gifted students
This class in postmodern
theory, philosophy and arts will allow students to experience a field of study
that is rarely focused upon in traditional educational settings. Postmodernism
offers a variety of artistic venues from many different viewpoints, in almost
every field of humanities study, ranging from literature and literary critique
to art to cinema to music and other communications.
IV. Major topics
covered
- Modernism and Postmodernism:
History, General Theory and Manifesto, Definition, Philosophical Background
- Postmodern Fragmentation
of Style, Technique and Method
- Postmodern Literature:
Fiction, Drama, Poetry
- Postmodern Music
- Postmodern Art
- Postmodern Cinema
V. Pre-requisite
knowledge
The class is very universal
in approach. Basic knowledge of literary styles and historical background is
preferred. Basic analysis and critique skills desired. Personal experiences
from a postmodern perspective are assumed.
VI. Learning objectives
- Students will gain knowledge
of and exhibit comprehension of past and current trends in philosophy and
the arts.
- Students will analyze
and critique various communications from the postmodern canon and from the
postmodern perspective.
- Students will form opinions
and theses regarding philosophical and artistic ideals of the past 50 to 100
years, and support those opinions and theses.
- Students will perform
artistic activities that display their knowledge of postmodern ideals.
VII. Primary source
material
- Britannica.com
- “Sonny’s Blues” by James
Baldwin
- “I Have a Dream” by Martin
Luther King, Jr.
- Einstein’s Dreams
by Allan Lightman
- Cruel Shoes by
Steve Martin
- Pure Drivel by
Steve Martin
- “Endgame” by Samuel Beckett
- “Waiting for Godot” by
Samuel Beckett
- “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard
- Love’s Fire, a
collection of plays, Ntozake Shange (contributor)
- On Becoming Lost
VIII. Supplementary
source material
- Art resources, featuring
Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock Andy Warhol, M.C. Escher, Salvador Dali
- Poetry resources, featuring
Wallace Stevens, Langston Hughes, e.e. cummings, T.S. Eliot, Shel Silverstein,
Jewel, Dr. Seuss, Maya Angelou
- Social Studies and History
Resources, featuring Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Henry Ford,
Adolph Hitler
- Musical Resources, featuring
Louis Armstrong, Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, Sting, The Beatles, Grunge Rock,
RunDMC, Baz Luhrmann, Miles Davis, B.B. King, and others.
- Cinematic Resources,
featuring Spielberg, Lucas, Spike Lee, Disney, the new Shakespeare films
IX. Computing and
the Internet
Students will contribute
to a classroom portfolio, containing an explanation of one genre of postmodernism.
This contribution will be assembled with use of Internet and library resources,
and typed for assembly.