Humanities
Introduction to Psychology
HUM 109*; 3 s.h.
A survey of major concepts and applications of psychology in the worlds of science, human behavior, medicine, counseling, the arts, and everyday life. Students will learn how to read and critically evaluate many sources of information about psychology and gain a greater understanding of traditional and contemporary research, theory, and practice. Special attention will be given to the application of psychology to the performing artist and the creative process.
Benjamin Franklin and the Cult of Genius
HUM 312*; 3 s.h.
An examination of the satiric and wisdom writings of Philadelphia’s most famous adopted son, as well as an appreciation of the scientific inventions and social accomplishments of Ben Franklin in colonial Philadelphia. His recognition in Europe led to Mozart writing a musical piece for the harmonium that he invented, and his fame as a genius played a decisive role in selling the American Revolution to the Court of Louis XVI of France. The second part of the course will be an examination of the 18th and 19th European century pre-occupation with genius, running from Goethe and Mozart and culminating in Nietzsche in philosophy/literature and Wagner in music. Equally interesting here is the Nietzsche-Wagner relationship, which began in hero worship by a Nietzsche who rode in the Wagner carriage to the opening of Bayreuth genius worship and ended in hateful disillusion as Nietzsche’s own genius was recognized.
