Mythology in Art & Literature Professor Will Adams · Wadams5@valenciacollege.edu · hum2310.blogspot.com

Osceola Campus – Building 1, Room 104 · Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:45– 2:20 PM

“Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood

and appreciated.” - Thomas Bulfinch (1796 – 1867 AD), mythologist

Course Description

§ Examines world mythology in comparative perspective, analyzes myths with a variety of methods, and considers the application of mythological ideas and symbols in the humanities.

§ This is a Gordon Rule course in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple writing assignments.

§ A minimum grade of C is required if used to satisfy the Gordon Rule requirement. § A minimum grade of C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1101H or IDH 1110 is required to enroll

in this course.

Course Objectives

§ Analyze and demonstrate how mythology is used by various cultures to explain the world around us

§ Articulate the similarities and differences between ancient mythologies and contemporary culture

§ Interpret what we can learn about a culture by studying its myths, rituals and religions § Articulate connections between world mythologies and contemporary culture such as

film, literature, music, or personal life where relevant. § Assume an active, questioning, critical stance in working within the classroom

community, thus developing confidence as critical readers and thinkers § Demonstrate college level writing skills on all of these through various oral and

writing assignments

Required Text

No text is required for this course.

Student Evaluation Formula

1. Attendance & Class Participation 25% § Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting, and count as

part of the attendance & participation grade. § The professor should hear each student’s voice at least once per class meeting. § Tardiness of more than 15 minutes after the scheduled beginning of class

constitutes an absence. § Please be aware that, under Valencia’s Attendance Policy, there is no such thing as

an “excused absence”. 2. Cultural Event & Written Evaluation 15%

§ You will be required to attend one cultural event during the class’s duration. § Throughout the class’s duration the instructor may suggest various events to you,

but it is ultimately your own responsibility to find and attend an approved cultural event.

§ Proof of attendance at said event must be furnished (i.e. ticket stub, program, etc). § A two-page “reaction” (i.e. non-research) paper is required. Be sure to answer the

following questions: What did I do? What did I think of it? What did I learn? 3. Research Project 25%

§ One 4-page written research project is required. § Proper MLA style citation should be used for all written assignments. § Plagiarism = A grade of zero. No exceptions. § Wikipedia use = A grade of zero. No exceptions. § All research projects should be stapled by the student. § A detailed research project description will be distributed at a later date.

4. Quizzes 5% § Four short-form pop quizzes will be administered throughout the course of the

class. § The format that the quizzes come in may vary from quiz to quiz.

5. Examinations 30% § Four long-form examinations will be administered. § The format of the exam may vary in each instance. § Examinations will not be cumulative in their subject matter. § You will be given a study guide for most exams, at the instructor’s discretion.

Grading Scale

100 – 90% = A 89 – 80% = B 79 – 70% = C 69 – 60% = D 59 – 0% = F

Schedule of Class Meetings

CLASS MEETING DATE CLASS MEETING TASKS

Monday, May 11th Activity: Introduce class Activity: Distribute & discuss syllabus Homework: Proust Questionnaire homework

Wednesday, May 13th Activity: Share Proust homework Lecture: Joseph Campbell’s Four Functions of Myth lecture

Monday, May 18th Activity: Research Project assigned & Library visit Wednesday, May 20th Lecture: Symbols in Mythology Monday, May 25th Memorial Day – NO CLASS Wednesday, May 27th Lecture: Mythological Archetypes Monday, June 1st IMPORTANT: Exam #1

Wednesday, June 3rd

Lecture: The Hero Monomyth Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film response

Monday, June 8th Film: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Cont’d) In-Class Assignment: Atlantis: The Lost Empire film response (Cont’d)

Wednesday, June 10th Lecture: Mesopotamian Mythology & The Epic of Gilgamesh Activity: Cuneiform translation contest

Monday, June 15th IMPORTANT: MIDTERM EXAM (Exam #2) Wednesday, June 17th Lecture: Egyptian Mythology

Monday, June 22nd Lecture: Egyptian Funerary Practices & Embalming Activity: Mummy Wrapping Contest

Wednesday, June 24th Film: Thebes: Death on the West Bank of the Nile In-Class Assignment: Thebes: Death on the West

Bank of the Nile film response Homework: Sarcophagus lid homework

Monday, June 29th Lecture: Greek Mythology

Wednesday, July 1st

Lecture: Homer’s The Odyssey Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film response

Monday, July 6th NO CLASS

Wednesday, July 8th

IMPORTANT: Exam #3 Film: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? (Cont’d) In-Class Assignment: O, Brother! Where Art Thou? film response (Cont’d)

Monday, July 13th Lecture: Norse Mythology

Wednesday, July 15th IMPORTANT: RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE Lecture: African Mythology

Monday, July 20th Lecture: Hawaiian Mythology Activity: Tiki mask building

Wednesday, July 22nd Lecture: Judaism, Christianity & Islam

Monday, July 27th IMPORTANT: CULTURAL EVENT DUE Activity: Final Exam Study Session

Wednesday, July 29th IMPORTANT: FINAL EXAM – 12:45 PM

Guidelines for Written Work

§ All written work should be set in Arial 12-point font, with double spacing and standard 1” page margins.

§ Additionally, each written assignment (with the exception of the research project) should begin with the following header, placed at the top, left side of the first page:

Your First & Last Name HUM2310 – 12:45 PM Prof. Will Adams Assignment Due Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

§ The student must staple assignments of more than one page. The instructor will not

provide a stapler for your use. § Finally, minimum page totals for any written assignment require that the written page be

filled in its entirety to count as one page. In other words, if a written assignment requires

2 pages, but the student only writes 1.5, the student will not earn all possible points for the assignment.

Extra Credit Policy

§ Each quiz or test throughout the class’s duration will include one extra credit question equal to 10% of the quiz or test’s total point value (i.e. A five point extra credit question for a fifty point test).

§ In addition, extra credit may be earned by writing more than the required number of pages for any written assignment. Extra credit for extra written work will be given up to a maximum of 15% of the assignment’s total point value (i.e. A two page written assignment is usually valued at 20 total points, at ten points per page. If the student writes 2.2 pages, the student will receive 22 points for the assignment, rather than the standard 20).

§ No other extra credit opportunities will be available.

Late Work & Make-Up Policy

§ No late work will be accepted. § No work will be accepted via e-mail. § Quizzes or exams must be taken on, or before, the date assigned – and only with the

instructor’s explicit consent. § The final exam must be taken on the date published for final exams.

Class Conduct

Be polite and respect both your fellow classmates and the instructor.

Attendance Policy

§ Students are expected to attend every class, and attendance will be taken and will count as a portion of the final grade.

§ After the SECOND absence, a student has missed two full weeks of class; a notice of Excessive Absences may be issued and the student may be withdrawn at the professor’s discretion.

§ It is always the student’s responsibility to contact the professor about issues that may lead to excessive absences.

§ It is also the student’s responsibility to arrange to receive class notes or handouts from missed classes from his or her fellow students; Do not contact the instructor for this information without contacting your classmates first!

§ Please note that there is no such thing as an “Excused Absence” (even with a doctor’s note, death in the family, etc.) under Valencia’s Attendance Policy.

Academic Honesty

§ Plagiarism is intellectual theft and will not be tolerated; presentation of the ideas and words of others as if they are your own work constitutes plagiarism.

§ The student is expected to perform his or her own research and present his or her own thoughts. Direct use of another author’s words or ideas, as well as paraphrasing must be cited.

§ Plagiarism in any work will result in a grade of zero for that assignment.

Computer & Equipment Use

§ Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms at Valencia College is restricted to those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the class materials; any other use is strictly forbidden.

§ Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to: § Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically assigned in

class. § Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned in

class. § Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting. § Activities not in accordance with the Valencia Student Code of Conduct § Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities

involved with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to the same restriction as listed above.

§ Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately may be subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab.

Students With Disabilities

§ Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class.

§ The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities.

Disclaimer

This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term; it is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.