Course Description
The appreciation of and evolving attitudes toward nature, gardens, and landscapes from an examination of landscapes as character, subject, or catalyst through their presence in or influence on differing forms of literature (novels, poetry, journalism), art (painting, film, theater, music, fashion), and pop culture (cultural trends, social media, advertising, activism).
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Each graduate student will conduct in-depth research and analysis on the role of landscape(s) in a less traditional art form or venue. Suggestions include social media, video games, board games, graphic novels, comics, anime, performance art, dance, comedy, fashion, sports, or gastronomy. The components of this research and analysis will be as follows: you will choose a topic from the list above or propose an alternative; produce a one-page written proposal that cites specific examples or case studies; develop a written outline from the proposal for a classroom lecture or discussion on the topic; present the classroom lecture at a minimum length of 40 minutes or facilitate the discussion for the entire class period; provide all students with guidelines for how to prepare for the class period during which the lecture or discussion will occur (e.g., reading or viewing assignments, if any); and compose a simple report, due within weeks of the lecture/discussion and prior to Reading Day.
Athena Title
LA in Lit Arts and Culture
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in LAND 4580 or LAND 6580
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Humanities and the Arts will be characterized by exploration and appreciation of the ways people document and understand the human experience through literature, philosophy, religion, architecture, and the visual and performing arts. Students will be able to: • Describe, interpret, and appreciate literary and artistic works and their contexts. • Analyze the impact and role of artistic and literary production and achievement on our understanding of the human condition. • Identify and express the role of landscape in literature through reading, analyzing, discussing, and formulating responses to assigned works of literature. • Identify and express the role of landscape in film, television, video, music, and/or theater through watching, listening, analyzing, discussing, and formulating responses to assigned productions. • Attend and compose written responses to assigned extracurricular events that connect landscapes to popular culture or the arts. • Identify and express the role of landscape in the visual arts through observation, comparison, research, analysis, diagramming, discussion, and formulating responses to assigned works and/or exhibits. • Identify and express the role of the landscape in advertising through observation, comparison, research, analysis, and the presentation of findings to the class. • Demonstrate an understanding of the landscape’s role in or influence on a variety of artistic and cultural endeavors as measured by quizzes, exams, or brief papers. • Present how they personally view landscapes through their development of a final project that demonstrates their personal and cultural views on the landscape through an original work of literature, painting, graphic art, video, ad campaign, musical composition, sculpture, board game, comic strip, children’s book, photo essay, or other approved media.
Topical Outline
Visual Art Literature Film Music The Forest Myths, Legends, and Fairy Tales Advertising and Marketing Utopia and Dystopia The Gothic Landscape The Urban Landscape
General Education Core
CORE IV: Humanities and the ArtsSyllabus