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Thinking Historically -- Spring 2010
FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Due via turnitin.com
Saturday, February 6th @ 5:00 PM
In a careful essay of no more than 500 words, explain Charles Rosen’s thesis in “The Future of Music” and comment on whether his "musicology is for musicians what ornithology is to the birds" quip has any relevance to it. Your discussion should reference Rosen (with appropriate citation) and at least one of the earlier authors/articles we have discussed thus far.
This is the main webpage for this class. Important information will be here--check frequently for updates!
SAVE TREES! ENTER THE 21st CENTURY!!
Most of our readings are available via this webpage.
WHAT BOOKS TO BUY?
You must purchase only one book for this course:
- Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre
This book will be assigned later in the semester. You must have it with you in class on days when it is discussed.
WHAT'S THIS COURSE ABOUT??
This history class is probably different from other history classes you have taken. The point is not to chronicle anything in particular, nor to explore the history of a particular person, period, culture, or achievement. Instead, the topic of this course is history itself: its role and its methods, its purposes and its meanings. (This kind of study may be aptly labeled “historiography.”) Behind the semester’s pursuit lie some bigger questions: does our awareness and understanding of history make any difference? Should--or could--it make a difference to us? or to you?
There are innumerable ways to ask these questions and to design a class with these objectives. This semester’s course results from a series of compromises. The class will proceed episodically, allowing for a broad range of perspective. The course schedule gives an overview of the four different units framing the semester. We will not explore any of these in great depth (one of the compromises). But the issues we will approach--and the readings, films, and discussions allowing us to approach them--are significant and should provoke thoughtful reflection.
HOW ARE GRADES DETERMINED?
The semester's grading is explained here.
PEABODY WANTS YOU TO KNOW THIS
If you are a student with a disability or believe you might have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact Dr. Eileen Soskin, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University at 410-659-8100, extension 4405 esoskin@peabody.jh.edu, or Ms. Peggy Hayeslip, University Coordinator of Disability Services at 410-516-6224 phayeslip@jhu.edu to discuss reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
