Potential Fine Arts Foundations Courses

• Art History Survey I
• Art History Survey II
• Music, the Arts and Culture
• Another Opening, Another Show: People, Society, and Theatre
• Tragedy Tomorrow, Comedy Tonight: The History of the American Musical Theatre

Course Descriptions

ART 250 Art History Survey I.  This course provides a general survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Pre-historic to the Gothic era in Western and Non-Western cultures. The course content will examine the context of style and era, with consideration of social, economic, political and religious issues. The intention is to provide a knowledge base that gives students a sense of connection with the past and a framework of understanding the roots of our cultures.  4 Sem. Hours.

ART 251 Art History Survey II.   This course provides a general survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the Modern Era in Western and Non-Western cultures. The course content will examine the context of style and era, with consideration of social, economic, political and religious issues. The intention is to provide a knowledge base that gives students a sense of connection with the past and a framework of understanding the roots of our cultures.  4 Sem. Hours.

MUS 200 Music, the Arts and Culture. The study of the basic elements, forms, stylistic traditions, social functions, and standard literature of vernacular and concert music throughout history. Music’s relationships with other art forms, historical periods and movements, religion, and politics are explored, as are the processes of artistic creation and interpretation. Students will begin to develop the tools to evaluate and place into context artistic works. Attendance at concerts and other cultural events throughout the semester is required. 4 Sem. Hrs.

THE 200 Another Opening, Another Show: People, Society, and Theatre. This course is an introduction to the exciting, complex, and collaborative process of theatre. Comprised of the work of a number of dedicated passionate people (playwrights, producers, directors, designers, actors, and technicians), encompassing theatrical traditions, and drawing from old and new scripts, theatre culminates in a live performance in front of a live audience, both in the same place at the same time. In this class, we will examine and consider the history, the choices, and the process of which results in the production. 4 Sem. Hrs.

THE 205 Tragedy Tomorrow, Comedy Tonight: The History of the American Musical Theatre. From The Black Crook (1866) to Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark (2011), musical theatre has been an integral part of not only the world of theatre, but the world at large. Although all too frequently regarded as “fluff entertainment,” musical theatre has been responsible for significant social observation and change. From the issues of racism in Showboat (1927 to the questions of AIDS in Rent (1996), unemployment in The Full Monty (1997) and sustainability in Urinetown (2001), musical theatre has often offered the ticket-buying public the palatable opportunity to examine tough issues from a safe place. This course will examine the history, impact, and effects of musical theatre. 4 Sem. Hrs.