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HUMANITIES 2020 Journal Questions:

  • You may choose to answer any one of the topics for each journal entry.
  • Each journal is required to have 500 words minimum.
  • Your entries should be free of grammatical and structural errors, and contain your opinion or “take” on the issue you are discussing. This is a personal, reflective journal.
  • You can, and should, use the first person pronoun, “I.” It is not a formal essay or a research paper.
  • Two typed pages with font 12, double-spaced are required per journal. Six journals will be submitted to me throughout the semester, two at a time.
  • Use your textbook as the source for your discussion.  You may use other sources, making sure you use the correct page citation format (MLA) and including a Works Cited page, even if it is the textbook. The rubric requirement states this clearly.  Plagiarism (the use of others’ words without any acknowledgment) will resultin a zero grade for the journal entry. I value your thoughts and ideas.Please use them!
  • Students who receive the best grades in journal entries are those who brainstorm their ideas first, and formulate a logical progression to the conclusion by using many examples. “I don’t think mankind has learned much since the first Crusades were fought in the middle ages. Just recently, Protestants stopped fighting with Catholics in Northern Ireland, Muslims with Christians in Bosnia, Jews with Muslims in Israel, and since September 11, Muslim fundamentalists are at war with the Western world.” (From a student’s A journal).
  • Heading for each Journal entry should contain:

HUMANITIES 2020, JOURNAL ENTRY I GREECE & (your choice of question spelled out.This means type the specific question you are answering. This helps you keep focused on the question you are writing about.)

QUESTION CHOICES FOR:

More to Read:

Journal I

Greece

1.Greek tragedy. Connect one of the tragedies discussed in class or in the text with a tragic event of modern times. In your opinion, and in your own words, does this event coincide with Aeschyllus’, Sophocles’ or Euripides’ sense of tragedy? Be specific with your details.

  1. Greek philosophy. Contrast Plato’s idealism with Aristotle’s realism. (Use the textbook’s definition for both the Ancient Greeks’ idealism and realism found in Chapter 3.) In your opinion, and in your own words, is the conflict between idealism and realism still going on in today’s world? Give many examples.
  2. Greek literature: Epic poetry. In your opinion, and in your own words, how do today’s comic books and superheroes relate to Greek epic poetry? Give many examples.
  3. Greek rationalism. (Define rationalism from the textbook as the ancient Greeks saw it.) In your opinion, and in your own words, do we still believe in rationalism today? (Rationality is NOT rationalization!!!) Prove it by giving many examples.
  4. Architecture and sculpture. By looking at the sculptures in the Parthenon and the architecture of the building itself, what Greek values are evident? (Values are the ideals a society or culture believes are important.) Think of an American structure that shows our American values in the same way. In your opinion, and in your own words, are any of these values similar/different?

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Journal II

Rome

  1. Compare and contrast how Rome’s imperialism was like US imperialism and how it was different. In your opinion, and in your own words, how were the Romans imperialists, and how were and maybe are Americans imperialists today?
  2. Entertainment. In your opinion, and in your own words, are there parallels between Ancient Rome and today’s America in terms of what both cultures chose to do for entertainment? Include sports, but do not limit yourself to sports.
  3. Discuss the aspect of Roman propaganda. In your opinion, and in your own words, how did Romans use propaganda? (Define propaganda.) How is propaganda used in our culture today? How is it different from the Romans? How is it the same?
  4. Because of Pompeii we know how Roman daily life was. In your opinion, and in your own words, can you compare/contrast Roman daily life with our own? Include factors discussed in your text in your journal.
  5. What was daily life like for the average married woman in the Roman world? What rights did she possess? How was her life different from a Greek married woman? How are these two lives different from the average American married woman? Use at least three aspects of the lives of Greek, Roman and American women in your discussion.

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Journal III

Judeo-Christian Spirit/The Early Middle Ages

  1. How was early Christianity the same as today? How was it different? Cite the specific aspects of the religion that are the same, and the ones that are different. In your opinion, and in your own words, what are some of the factors that made Christianity evolve and become what it is today. Be specific.
  2. Compare/contrast, using your own words, Judaism, Christianity and Islam as explained in your text. Use more than one difference and one similarity for your journal entry. In your opinion, why do you think we have such conflicting viewpoints today?
  3. Discuss monasticism and feudalism in your own words, and how they shaped society during the middle ages. Use the definitions from the text as the base for your discussion. Are there any influences in our society today that have evolved from each of those two movements? Be specific by giving examples.
  4. Discuss the rise of Romanesque churches and medieval cities as pilgrimage routes became established. Can you think of a similar phenomenon in modern times? Be specific by giving examples.
  5. Discuss the Christian Crusades in your own words. What was the original motivation of crusaders? Can a connection be made with ongoing religious conflicts today? Do we seem to learn anything from the past? Give specific instances. Do not be general!
  6. Discuss the fact that we don’t know what music sounded like prior to Guido d’Arezzo’s contribution of musical notation. In your opinion, and in your own words, are we still indebted to Guido d’Arezzo in the musical field today? Why? Why not? Use clear, explicit examples.

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Journal IV

The Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance

  1. Dante’s Inferno makes for interesting reflection: If you were to rewrite the Inferno for a modern article, could you put certain notorious celebrities of modern times in different circles of Hell, assigning them the corresponding contrapasso, (the punishment for the crime) as Dante did? For the sake of brevity, you may define just a few circles of hell, the sin the person(s) committed, the punishment that fits the crime, and the famous person(s) you would place there… for eternity!
  2. By using Brunelleschi’s example, discuss the merits of personal rejection and success. Use a personal example from your own life.
  3. Use Pico dellaMirandola’s essay to discuss what, according to Italian humanists you are capable of achieving in your lifetime. Use personal examples.
  4. Use Machiavelli’s analysis of politics to discuss a present-day politician or political movement. Use specific examples, beginning with Machiavelli’s characteristics. Then apply them to either a historical figure or a modern-day politician or movement. This is tricky, so don’t attempt unless you have a good grasp of Machiavelli’s ideas!
  5. Discuss how societal values of the Renaissance enabled geniuses such as Michelangelo and Leonardo to create to the fullest of their potential. What were those values? In your opinion, are we nurturing artists today in our society? What values do we have that nurture or don’t nurture the arts and artists? Give specific examples.
  6. Compare and contrast a mega-wealthy American family–give their name and research their contributions– with the Medici family of Renaissance Florence in terms of what is/was important to them. In your opinion, will the American family you choose for your example be remembered 500 years after they’re gone as the Medicis are? Why? Why not?

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Journal V

The Spirit of Baroque and the Neoclassical Style

  1. 1. Discuss Bernini’s design for the piazza in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. What are some of the shapes he used and how did he use them practically and symbolically? In your opinion, and in your own words, how was this design it a triumph of the Baroque style? How did Bernini’s work help the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation?
  2. In your opinion, how did the palace of Versailles come to define the term Absolutism? Give examples of life under Louis XIV.
  3. Woman as subject or woman as object? Define object and subject before you start your discussion. This is a modern debate about the manner in which women have been represented in art. Think about this statement in terms of the paintings Judith Slaying Holofernes by Gentileschi and Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus by Rubens. In your opinion, how do you think these painting would be received by audiences today? Back your opinion with specific facts.
  4. Discuss how satirists such as Jonathan Swift, Voltaire and Hogarth made change possible in their societies. How were the satirists of the Enlightenment received? Do we have satirists today? Who? Are they well-accepted by our society today? In your opinion, and in your own words, are they changing some form of the American culture? How?
  5. Compare and contrast the political philosophies of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. How would you describe, using your own words, the way each man viewed the common man? Can you imagine a political situation or a country in which Hobbes’s ideas would be better suited? Are there problems with Locke’s ideas? What are they, in your opinion? Be specific.

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Journal VI

Revolution and Romanticism; The Industrial Age: The Spirit of Materialism

  1. How would you define romanticism? Do you think you have more of a romantic personality (emotional and individual) or a neoclassical personality (rational and orderly)? Why? Explain how Romanticism was a movement that had great appeal to the middle class in mid-eighteenth century. To make this a good journal, begin with the definitions of both romanticism and neoclassicism, and use examples from the arts we have learned about. Then use examples from your personality.
  2. What is a Romantic genius? Apply the characteristics and description cited in your book to Napoleon and Beethoven. Can you think of anyone today who fits this category? In your opinion, how does he or she fit this description as compared to either Napoleon or Beethoven? Be specific.
  3. Use two paintings from the text, one romantic and one neoclassical. Compare and contrast the elements of romanticism to the elements of neoclassicism in terms of subject matter, line, color and emotional range. In your opinion, what did romanticism have to offer the art world? What did neoclassicism have to offer the art world?
  4. How does lyrical poetry lend itself as a good medium to portray romanticism? Give specific examples. Is there a romantic poem you have read that exemplifies the elements of romanticism? (Use the definition from the text.) Cite the poem and the poet and give specific examples from the poem. If the poem is too long, choose some verses.
  5. How does the novel lend itself as the best medium to portray realism? Relate the injustices of industrialism to the work of Charles Dickens. In your opinion, how did Dickens change the world of the Industrial Age? Use examples from one of his novels. Do not choose this journal question unless you are familiar with Charles Dickens and his novels!
  6. Discuss which American innovations opened up the era of modern art. Give specific examples. What do you consider to be America’s modern era masterpiece in either sculpture, architecture, technology? (There are many, just give one—your favorite.) Why do you make this choice? (What do you see in it that makes it that significant or important, in terms of cultural contribution?

HUMANITIES 2020 Journal Questions:

Last Updated on December 28, 2019

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