HUM2250 - Contemporary Humanities

3 hours Lecture, 3 credit(s)

Lower-Division College Credit

Course Description:
This course examines the role and effect of creativity for both the individual and society. Students study current examples of the creative process and the sources of influence for these pieces from the nineteenth century. Course studies include humanistic areas outside the Fine Arts.

This course is also offered in Honors format. For Honors Program sections, Honors Program permission is required.

Academic Dean’s Contact Information

LAKELAND DEAN’S OFFICE: LLC 2255 PHONE: (863) 297-1024
WINTER HAVEN DEAN’S OFFICE: WSC 101 PHONE: (863) 297-1020

Polk State College Mission and Core Outcomes

Polk State College is a quality-driven educational institution providing access to affordable associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates, and workforce development programs, delivered by diverse, qualified faculty and staff who are committed to student learning and achievement through consistent practice of collaboration and focus on excellence. In line with this purpose, Polk State College’s General Education courses develop competence in the areas of 1) Communication, 2) Critical Thinking, 3) Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning, 4) Information Literacy, and 5) Global Socio-Cultural Responsibility. Students should review the Polk State College Catalog for a complete description of these outcomes. A primary focus of this course is the development of competencies related to the areas of:

1. Communication

Demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak, and listen effectively, utilizing standard English.

2. Critical Thinking

Demonstrate the ability to reflect on, analyze, synthesize, and apply information through problem solving.

4. Information Literacy

Demonstrate the ability to access, evaluate, incorporate, organize, and document information.

5. Global Socio-Cultural Responsibility

Demonstrate knowledge of global cultural influences, ethical principles, and social responsibilities.

Course Objectives:

The course offers students a chance to learn to use a variety of critical approaches to studying popular culture. As a result of taking this course, students will be able to:
1.    Determine the ownership of various media channels, and exactly what groups or individuals are in control of the texts that support these channels. (2,5)
2.    Deconstruct and analyze the creation of popular culture as it follows both democratic and elitist paths. (2,5)
3.    Illustrate the extent to which items selected as part of our collective popular culture come to light via commercial as well as creatively expressive forces. (1,2,4,5)
4.    Perform textual analysis to determine how specific works of popular culture make their meanings, how explicit meanings differ from implied ones, and how texts consciously and subconsciously shape those who hear, see, or touch them. (1,2,4,5)
5.    Identify cultural and social elements that cause different groups of popular culture consumers, or users, to have similar or different interpretations of the same texts. (1,2,4,5)
6.    Use historical analysis to determine how social and cultural responses to popular culture have changed over time – specifically to understand how current popular culture differs from that of ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. (1,2,4,5)

For Honors Program sections, the following Course Objectives also apply:
7.    Utilize primary sources to research, write and/or create original academic work.
8.    Demonstrate a deeper understanding of discipline content as a result of participating in cultural events, service-learning or disciipline-related professional experiences.

Course Content:

This course provides an upper-level introduction to critical issues and approaches in the study of recent American popular culture. We will explore the ways in which each of us is both a user of and is used by popular culture.
Popular culture analysis occurs in a number of different fields, including Sociology, Communications, Anthropology, History, Cultural Studies, English, Women’s Studies, Ethnic Studies, and American Studies. Part of the task of this course will be to refine further your ability to read, evaluate, and synthesize materials from these different disciplines into your own interdisciplinary analyses.
We will look primarily at television, film, advertising, popular music, and computer cyberculture, with occasional forays into other types of pop culture. We will analyze how such critical factors as ethnicity, race, gender, class, age, region, and sexuality are shaped by and reshaped in popular culture.

Textbook and Other Requirements

Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus, at the campus bookstore, and on the campus bookstore website at: www.efollett.com.

The Gordon Rule

The Gordon Rule, State Rule 6A-10.30, requires each AA degree program student to complete six credits of college-level mathematics; taking the appropriate General Education mathematics courses will satisfy the mathematics portion of the requirement. In addition, State Rule 6A-10.030 requires each AA degree program student to complete six semester hours of English and six semester hours of additional courses in which the student demonstrates college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Because Polk State College uses a “Writing across the Curriculum” approach to meeting the writing requirement, in addition to the required composition courses, any of the required Social Sciences and Humanities courses will fulfill this writing requirement.

This course provides emphasis on writing. Students should expect a variety of writing assignments of varying lengths.

A minimum grade of C is required for all courses used to fulfill the Communications and Mathematics areas of the General Education requirements.

Student Help

The professor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from the professor. To further the educational process, the campus Learning Resources Centers, comprised of the Teaching/Learning and Computing Center (TLCC) and library, are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote students’ academic success. The TLCC provides tutoring services, computing resources, and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. Polk State College Library and TLCC hours of operation and tutoring schedules are posted at each facility and on the Polk State College website.

Withdrawing From a Course

Students may officially withdraw from course(s) during any given term, provided they follow the appropriate policy and procedure. Following the conclusion of the Drop/Add Period, a student may officially withdraw without academic penalty from any credit course, provided he or she has submitted the appropriate forms to the Student Services Office no later than the published deadline. The published deadline reflects approximately (but no more than) 70% of the term, based upon the course’s scheduled duration. It is the student’s responsibility to submit these withdrawal forms; failure to do so may result in a grade of F in the course. Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. A student is not allowed to withdraw from a third course attempt. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding withdrawing from courses that vary from this policy. Please see the student handbook for that program for more information. If a student stops attending class, the grade earned, usually an F, is assigned and posted. Prior to withdrawing from a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, withdrawal from the course will have on his or her financial aid status. A student cannot use course withdrawal to avoid academic dishonesty penalties. A student who has been penalized for academic dishonesty in a course is not eligible to withdraw from the course.

Repeating a Course

Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one college credit course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. Under certain circumstances, a student may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the three attempts. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding repeating courses that vary from this policy. Please see the student handbook for that program for more information. The student should be aware that repeating a course may result in a higher course cost. A course cannot be repeated unless the previously earned grade is a D, F, or W (the Polk State College Catalog provides further details regarding this process). Prior to repeating a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating the course will have on his or her financial aid status.

Academic Dishonesty

Each student is responsible for his or her work. It is assumed that each student is honest and will abide by this standard; however, in the event that there is an indication or suspicion of cheating/plagiarism, the situation shall be dealt with in accordance with the published College policy. Copies of this policy are available in the Student Services Office. Students should also refer to the course syllabus for more specific information.

Information Technology Access/Use Policy

All individuals who employ the information technology resources provided by Polk State College (this includes, but is not limited to, telephones, computers, the Polk State College Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) must use these resources for academic purposes only. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege.

Equal Access/Opportunity

Polk State College is an equal access, equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to applicants for admission to the College. Polk State College is committed to the equitable treatment of all students in a learning environment free of discrimination and harassment. Polk State College’s Equity Officer ensures compliance with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination and sexual harassment. Students who believe they have been a victim of discrimination or sexual harassment should contact the Polk State College Equity Officer, Ms. Valparisa Baker, at 863-292-3602 or vbaker@polk.edu.

Equal Opportunity For Students With Disabilities

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provides equal educational opportunity for qualified individuals. A student with a disability who requires special accommodations or auxiliary aids under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Student Services Office on either campus and speak with the Coordinator of Academic Advising.

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