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Course Information

Cross-disciplinary seminar. Explores the continuity of cultural traditions through a study of major works of history, literature, philosophy, social thought, fine arts, and the sciences. Compares and contrasts modes of inquiry characteristic of those disciplines. Organized around the theme of the postmodern world.

Course Theme & Questions

The last few centuries have seen an explosion in human knowledge of and questions about art, history, science, politics, and language - this has occurred in two distinct eras: modernity and postmodernity. Much of this knowledge building has focused on understanding one creature in particular, the human being, and how humans interact with each other.

In this course, we will look at sources in the arts, history, philosophy, film, poetry, and other media and how different people viewed two concepts in particular: equality and equity. We will ask intriguing questions: are human beings all equal to each other? If so, in what ways? Does equality mean “sameness”? How do people challenge the concept of human equality? What are the differences between equality and equity? How do they relate to each other? How have these concepts changed over the last century? How do we ensure humans receive what they need to flourish? How do the humanities respond to and interpret a rapidly changing world?

Course Objectives

Topics Covered

Antecedents of postmodernism: From the European "Enlightenment" era through 20th-century
1. Modernism
  1. Communication
    1. Education
    2. Intellectual networks
    3. Oral traditions
    4. Physical artifacts
    5. Transportation
  2. Social structure
    1. Urbanization
    2. Modes of production
    3. Class structure
    4. Patronage
    5. Religion
    6. Scientific community
    7. Loci of power
2. The humanities heritage
  1. Significant works
    1. Art and architecture
    2. Music and theater
    3. Philosophy and science
    4. Letters
  2. Significant issues
    1. Race
    2. Gender
    3. Intellectual freedom and expression
    4. Artistic freedom and expression
    5. What it means to be human
3. The postmodern world's relationship with its heritage
  1. Absorption
  2. Rejection
  3. Deconstruction
  4. Transformation

Learning Objectives

Students participating in this class will:

Recognize, analyze, and discuss a number of diverse scholarly perspectives concerning the postmodern world and its intellectual heritage.
Complete a close, critical reading of primary texts and artifacts related to the postmodern world and its intellectual heritage.
Examine explicit models and techniques of reasoning used since the Western Enlightenment.
Conceptualize research problems and prepare a documented research paper based on an argumentative thesis, including an abstract and supported by an annotated bibliography of primary and other scholarly sources, concerning as aspect of the postmodern world or its intellectual heritage.
Prepare a hermeneutical analysis of a masterwork of the period; this may be done via representational passages for larger works.
Discuss and analyze the artistic significance of a major artifact of the period.
Orally present a research paper in an academic conference environment.

Honors Student Learning Outcomes

Distinguish and evaluate the advent and growth of the sciences, including the social sciences, as seen by such disciplines as history, art history, and philosophy.
Evaluate political conflict as seen by such disciplines as history, art history, and philosophy.
Isolate and evaluate the key ideas that have changed the course of historical events, as seen by such disciplines as history, art history, and philosophy.

Required Materials

Textbook

This class will use the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) option.

Readings will be provided from:

McHale, B., The Cambridge Introduction to Postmodernism, Cambridge University Press. 2015

Cunningham, L., Reich, J., Fichner-Rathus, L., Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, Vol II, 9th Ed. Cengage Learning. 2018. (Material Fee 0.00

Additional Materials and Workshops

Supplements are provided through Canvas to students.

TU 300 (Free; 0 unit course)

Library Workshops (Free through the Saddleback College Library)

RefWorks Account (Free through the Saddleback College Library)

Complex and Difficult Topics

With the invention of the written word came efforts to control the impact of those words. Censorship has had a long and full history in limiting our understanding of the past and the literature that has shaped beliefs and movements along with our understanding of the world around us. You will read and view material that may contain difficult themes or express views you dislike. By exposing ourselves to these views, it will provide us a richer understanding of rhetorical analysis and the need to create meaningful dialogue when faced with contrary views.

Please note that this class may cover readings and discussions that include adult themes and issues. We may read, view, and discuss mature subject matter (relating to the arts, entertainment, sexuality, race, class, immigration, war, religion, politics, nature, science, crime, violence, etc., as well as a range of points of view on those issues). Students may be exposed to work that makes them uncomfortable, that challenges the norms of contemporary culture, or that challenges the norms of their own upbringing. As challenging as those subjects may be, you are encouraged to remain in the class, to learn about diverse points of view, and to--tactfully and respectfully--contribute your point of view.

Please note that hate speech is prohibited (definition: “any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence”). Always talk humanely about other human beings.

Given the situation described above, we will strive to maintain an inclusive and equitable environment, including an emphasis on curiosity, tolerance, and experimentation. If students have concerns about any material that they are reading, please reach out to us immediately.

Units of Study

Active Engagement
- The Humanities
- Modernism and Postmodernism
Thinking
- Introduction to (Post-)Modernism
- Who are we?
- What do we mean by “equality” and “equity” in 2022?
- Crisis World
We’re Moving to the City
- The City as Site of Modernity
Hands of Power
- Modern Social Structures
- The Abuse of Power
Progress?
- What is Progress?
- Modern “Progress”
- Progress in the World
Postmodernism and the City
- The City Changes
- The City Falls Apart
Postmodern Religion
- We’re All God Now
Gender
- Gender as Performance
Race
- Remembering the Past
- Imagining the Future
Learning How to Be Human
- Education, Power, and the Self
Imagining the Future
- Science or Science Fiction
Technology
- All the World’s a Simulation
- Technology and the Self
The End?
- Post-postmodern? What is coming?

Technical Needs

You will access your course by logging into Saddleback’s Canvas. All your course materials, assignments and other information will be in Canvas. Canvas works best on Chrome.

You will log on with your Saddleback student username and password. If you have any problems logging on, be sure to contact Student Technical Support for assistance.

If you’ve never used Canvas before, I highly recommend you check out these great video tutorials!

Help/Support

New to Canvas? I highly recommend checking out the video tutorials before getting started.
Saddleback Student Technical Support - Canvas, password, and email assistance
Library - online databases and librarian assistance
Tutoring Center
Student Health Center
Additional help links will be provided with course assignments

Online Access

Expect to check our course Canvas site or your official Saddleback College email address for correspondence, announcements, and/or assignments.

Required Online Accounts/Access

Canvas: Canvas: https://canvas.instructure.com
- Applications through Canvas

TurnItIn: Canvas will connect you automatically

RefWorks: RefWorks: http://www.refworks.proquest.com (Sign up using Saddleback email)
Google Drive/Gmail Account: Google: http://drive.google.com/ All papers are to be written in and maintained through Google Drive. NOTE: Students are expected to respect each other’s work; any student caught messing with another student’s or group’s paper(s) or assignment(s) will automatically earn a zero on the assignment in question.
Zoom: https://conferzoom.us/

Recommended Online Accounts/Access

Padlet: https://padlet.com/ (a free account should be fine: used in class to document discussions)
Kahoot! App (Recommended to install on your phone; we play 5-6 games throughout the semester)
Monosnap: https://monosnap.com/ (download the free app; don’t sign up; useful for creating videos and screenshots for homework)
Trello: https://trello.com/ (free account; we use this 2-3 times in the semester)