Intellectual Traditions: The Experience of Being - Human Experience Through Story Telling

Course Description

This course investigates what it means to be human and what our stories tell us and others about our human experience. Students will engage with stories and perspectives of multiple individuals who have lived around the globe in various times and cultures and have experienced diverse life situations and experiences. Students will explore these stories through expressive mediums including literature, art, music, film, and ritual. The structure of this class is more of an ongoing conversation amongst students about things they read, see and listen to. Students will be expected to engage in a good amount of reading, research, and writing.

Photo Research Essay

Signature Assignment

Explanation & Reflection

I feel in order to explain why I chose Marvin Gaye for my signature assignment, I should tell you a little about myself. I love music. But I have my favorite genres and, unfortunately, I am very pick in the music I enjoy so I tend to stick to those genres. However, every once in a while, a piece of music will cross my path that I simply can't ignore, a piece that draws me in, one that enamors me like never before. Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album is one of those piece of art to me. I would've been remiss if I didn't share his glorious work of art and the story of Marvin working up to the album. I have always had this curiosity about African-American culture, more specifically their music and I have been slowly piecing together it's influences. Exploring and presenting Marvin's story is one small piece of this larger picture. You'll notice in my presentation that I include a few snippets of some of the songs from What's Going On. I love a good PowerPoint presentation, but I felt simply narrating his story wasn't enough. Music is more than the words spoken, so when I was discussing his album and how it related to the themes of the class, I wanted to include those clips so those who listened could experience the emotions that these songs evoke. 

While learning about Marvin's story, I learned how imperfect of a man he is. It would take him almost 6 years to publish "What's Going On" following his realization that singing love songs during a time of great turmoil was not enough and that he should be doing more. "What's Going On" was something only Marvin could do and it was his own unique contribution. I'm reminded of Vaclav Havel and his ideas of civil disobedience where he says "anything which leads people to overstep their predetermined roles is regarded by the system as an attack upon itself." Marvin was a black artist made to be a sex icon of sorts for the women who listened to his music. "What's Going On" was a political statement that went against the predetermined role that Motown had placed on him and against his audience. He ignored his desires for fame and said what needed to be said.

At the start of this class, I struggled with the question of "What can I do to contribute against injustice?" and to know that someone as influential and imperfect as Marvin took his time to make a contribution gives me comfort. As imperfect as I am, I can take my time to figure out what I can do to fight and contribute. Being a part of this class has given me the knowledge to recognize and offers ways of fighting injustice. Between this class and Honors 2060, I've learned of so many events that I wasn't aware of, but by listening to the stories of others, I've come to know the pain that they've experience from these events. Knowing these stories broadens my perspective and encourages me to continue to fight against injustice in the best way that I can.