Fall 2020 (un)common arts

These courses are discussion-oriented, seminar courses centered on a performance or an exhibit. All of these courses are one credit.

Please use the UF Schedule of Courses to find times, places, and other course information.

"Just want to start off by saying… wow. Thank you for giving us the ability to attend Alpin Hong’s performance this past Thursday because honestly, I had never been to a classical music concert before. ... There were so few people there that I felt like Alpin was playing for us and only us: a special select group. It was just incredible. As we discussed in class, I also noticed the light change behind the piano with each piece he played." - Alexa Khazzam

Go to something you've never seen before and learn about that performance from someone who knows the material!

(un)common arts courses

Course	Class Number	Title	Sect	Day/Period	Instructor	Syllabus
IDH2952	26391	Musical Elements of Emotion	0222	M/7	Carytsas, Ferol	Musical Elements of Emotion
IDH2952	26310	Behind the Scenes	0198	R/3	Law, Mark/Cox, Matthew	IDH 2952 Behind the Scenes
IDH2952	28607	Best Movies Analyzed	0195	M/7	Stewart, Greg	Best Movies Analyzed
IDH2952	26308	Best Movies Analyzed	0196	T/7	Stewart, Greg	Best Movies Analyzed
IDH2952	26309	Best Movies Analyzed	0197	W/6	Stewart, Greg	Best Movies Analyzed
IDH2952	26537	Political Satire Capital Steps*	0223	W/7	Martinelli, Amy	Political Satire

*This course explores a social cause. Looking for others? Cross-reference Fall 2020 offerings here.

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26391 Musical Elements of Emotion

This course will explore the relationship between music and emotion through investigation of theoretical and historical musical elements that elicit emotion. Students will observe their emotional responses to music and analyze the musical elements that elicited that response by actively listening to classical music compositions of various styles and genres. Students will be engaged through lectures, discussions, presentations and musical experiences.  In addition, students will be required to attend an UFPA performance and will closely examine repertoire from the performance.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will:

Demonstrate an understanding of how theoretical and historical elements of music are utilized to elicit emotional responses.
Develop deeper appreciation for classical music.
Relate basic elements of classical music to their influence on emotion.
Appraise the effect musical elements have on emotions.
 

Course Format and Content 

This course will meet in person for one hour, once a week. Classes will include lectures, guest presenters and student presentations. Students are expected to actively engage by arriving to class on time and behaving in a manner that is respectful to the instructor and fellow students. The general scope and content is as follows:

Discussions: weekly discussions on varying assigned topics
Listening Journals: weekly 1 page reflection on their emotional response to music
Concert Review: 500 word review of UFPA performance
Research Presentation: a 20 minute research presentation presented in class
Reflection Paper: 1,000 word reflection on music and emotion

26308/26309 Best Movies Analyzed

A class where students view movies at home of significant intellectual and societal impact and discuss them in class. What, from the movie genre, speaks to us about daily life, and our hopes for the future?

26310 Behind the Scenes: Producing a Musical - A National Tour

This course will take students behind the scenes to explore the business and the art of producing an American musical. Students will be introduced to theatre production and design, to the production management of a theatrical tour, and to backstage work at the Phillips Center for a national tour production of a musical, presented by University of Florida Performing Arts. Along the way, there will be opportunities to see how performing arts centers work, and to explore the changing meanings of a performing arts event.

26537 Political Satire Capital Steps

Political comedy and satire have been viable forms of communication for centuries, providing an outlet for transmitting political commentary and opinion in both flattering and unflattering ways. In the contemporary era, there has been a rise in the use of political comedy on television, but there are numerous other outlets where satire and comedy shed light on political realities. Political cartoons, stand-up comedians, blogs and websites, social media and memes, and music or other live-art performances have the power to convey information, form or shape opinions, and even influence or motivate political participation.

The purpose of this course will be to explore the connections between comedy and satire, and politics. As American politics have become more hyper-partisan and bitter, it would seem that political comedy has increased in attention, becoming more popular. This course will function seminar-style, using historical and contemporary examples of political comedy and satire to drive conversation around the impacts that comedy has on politics directly, and indirectly by informing, influencing and motivating political behavior. Students will be assigned readings, videos, and other multi-media or web-based content to explore each week, and will meet for one hour a week to discuss and explore ideas and perspectives. In the aftermath of a bitter 2016 election and an upcoming midterm/Governor election, this course is a perfect time to observe how comedy is utilized. The last few weeks of the course, students will give a presentation based on the subject matter. Bonus is a performance with the Capitol Steps