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Course Descriptions for Semester in Rome

Italy and the Western Humanities (HUM 300, 9 credit hours)

This course explores western culture as expressed in the literary, visual, and musical arts in historical and intellectual context from origins in Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions through the 20th century.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the study of ancient Rome, the Renaissance, the development of Christianity in Western Europe, and on the Italian context.  The course will make extensive use of field trips in Rome and across Italy and will take place within an experiential living/learning community.

Course Objectives

In this course you will accomplish the following as you move towards the outcomes described in the next section.

• Gain a knowledge of Western culture from the Ancient through the contemporary periods, including a sense of the stages of its development, variety, and relations to cultural and historical events
• Consider the spiritual complexities and consequences of the values shaping Western culture
• Develop a usable understanding and appreciation of the Western cultural heritage through a study of the basic liberal arts subjects
• Explore the concepts of worldview; calling, and communal life and thoughtfully engage questions related to these important issues

Student Outcomes

• Cultivate skills of communication in speaking, writing, and the fine arts, and the ability to evaluate what is communicated
• Articulate how differing views shaped and transformed the definition of being human, of nature, of the good life, and of the “spirit of the times” from the Ancient through contemporary periods
• Apply Christian principles to the pursuit of knowledge by engaging and evaluating a wide range of intellectual and artistic works, including those that demonstrate the current broken and fallen nature of God’s creation
• Apply understandings to your own life and calling with the purpose of understanding and transforming contemporary circumstances

World Literature Italian Cinema (ENG 305, 3 credit hours)

In this course, we will study Italian cinema from its Golden Age in the 1940s and 50s to the present. We will look at films of early master directors such as Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and Vittorio DeSica, among others, as well as more recent actor/directors like Roberto Benigni. Along with the well-known Italian “high art” genres of neorealism and commedia, we will also view the lesser known and appreciated genres of the Spaghetti Western and “Sword and Sandal” films. Films can be important artifacts of the past. As Peter Rollins suggests, “films register the feelings and attitudes of the periods in which they are made.” During the course of the semester we will discuss together what those feelings and attitudes might be. Additionally, we will gain knowledge of the technical and theoretical vocabulary of film analysis, and we will collectively develop a method for viewing and enjoying films as Christians. As one of the most recent artistic forms, films provide an exciting and enjoyable way to consider the human maker of films as an image bearer of God who makes art out of light. The power of the multi-billion dollar film industry, according to critic Mark Coppenger, has progressed so far that film has “replaced the pulpit as the primary moral/spiritual influence in our society.” While various more recent electronic media might be replacing film’s supremacy; nevertheless, film remains a potent cultural force. As audience members and film analysts, we will use our interpretive skills to understand the claims to truth and artistry found in Italian film.

Course Objectives

• To learn the technical and theoretical vocabulary of film analysis
• To expand your appreciation and enjoyment of a wide range of Italian films
• To develop and method for viewing and enjoying films as a Christian
• To appreciate Italian film’s place in the world of art
• To develop criteria for the analysis of film
• To develop an awareness and sensitivity to personal limitations in viewing films

Italy’s Timeless Cities and Their People (SOC 202, 3 credit hours)
Note: This course will replace “Italian Cinema” beginning with the Fall 2013 semester

Through inductive study, this course introduces Semester in Rome participants to the fundamental elements of sociology.  Employing the vibrant cities of Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Venice, and Siena as observational laboratories allows students to apply methods of sociological investigation as they reside in Rome and encounter the other cities during field trips.  The primary purposes of this course are to introduce students to a way of seeing the world through social spectacles that comports with God’s creational intentions and to help participants better understand Italian culture.

Italian Language & Culture (FLC 101, 3 credit hours)

This course is designed to provide enrichment in the language and culture of Italy and its people.  The course will address the basic aspects of pronunciation, grammatical structures, and cultural knowledge needed for using Italian in conversation.  Vocabulary development will be an integral part of the course as will experiential approaches to learning.

Book Discussion (HMN 491, 1 credit hour)

The discussion of Cultural Perspectives is designed to challenge students’ perception and understanding of the culture that they grew up in and the culture they now find themselves in while in Rome from a biblical standpoint.  The discussion will prepare students to consider their role in shaping and transforming the culture around them as they experience various aspects of culture including, but not limited to: culture shock, politics, religion, food, and the differences between American and European social behaviors and practices.