Humanities 101

The USC Humanities Collaborative invites you to the University of South Carolina to take part in first-day class sessions with our most extraordinary professors in the humanities and arts. Join us for “Humanities 101” and select from a variety of subjects in philosophy, literature, film studies, and theater for up to 2 sample community lessons. The courses include group discussions, mini-lectures, and hand-on activities, and we’ll supply optional readings and materials. Lunch will also be provided, and books by USC humanities faculty will be available for purchase. Registration is required.

Class Sessions
Each participant has the option to sign up for two sample class sessions:

• Session 1 (9:15-10:30am):
  A. “Introduction to Free Will” with Prof. Matthew Kisner, Philosophy: Imagine that everything that happens is inevitable, necessarily determined to happen as it does by preceding events and the laws of physics. If this is the case, then is it possible for people to have free will? This engaging session will walk through the basic answers that philosophers have offered to this question over thousands of years of debate. To get a sense of the issues in advance, feel free to check out the Humanities Collaborative website for the suggested podcast episode (not required).
  B. “Make a Mini World: A Cornell Box Workshop” with Prof. Erik Flatmo, Theater: [TBD]
  
• Session 2 (10:45am-12:00pm):
  A. “Coming of Age Literature in the Caribbean Diaspora” with Prof. Claire Jimenez, English and African American Studies: In this session, we will read and discuss excerpts from literature of the Caribbean diaspora by Justin Torres and Paule Marshall, which will be provided in advance (not required). You will also have the opportunity to practice your own creative writing using prompts inspired by the stories.
  B. “Understanding Film in Context” with Prof. Maureen Ryan, Film and Media Studies: This session is an introduction to the scholarly study of film and media. We will learn about the development of the film industry and its role in shaping society and culture, and learn basic methods of film analysis. Our guiding question in this introductory class is: how do film and media texts express our cultural ideas, beliefs, and values?

Full Schedule
8:30-9:00: Check In
9:00-9:15: Welcome
9:15-10:30: Class Session 1A or 1B
10:30-10:45: Break
10:45-12:00: Class Session 2A or 2B
12:00-1:00: Lunch and “Office Hours” Roundtable

Questions:
Please contact: Humanities Collaborative at [email protected].

About the USC Humanities Collaborative:
The goal of the USC Humanities Collaborative is to create opportunities and resources for the exploration of human culture, thought, and experience on campus and in our community. Since 2021, we have managed a robust series of programs that include research and creative working groups, public talks, digital humanities workshops, podcasts, and partnerships with local arts and humanities organizations. Our activities bring together faculty and students from across disciplines to generate new knowledge, and we advocate for the meaningful integration of humanistic inquiry in every classroom and profession.

All attendees are expected to adhere to the Carolinian Creed.

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Host or Publisher USC, College of Arts and Sciences