Humanities 376

Spring 2008
12:35-1:50 Monday and Wednesday
Humanities Building Room 133

Goals and Visions - Grading - Required Readings - Building Visits - Lecture Slides - Contact Info

Goals and Visions

The purpose of this course is to learn about and appreciate the social, intellectual, and artistic life of San Francisco. Humanities 376 is a biography of a city: the story of the great works, changing moods and permanent nature of San Francisco.

During the semester there will be some lectures and discussions concerning San Francisco history. But this is not a history course. History might emphasize the large-scale political and economic trends of the city's history. A humanities course comes to grips with this past, but concentrates more on what comes out of a city's creative energies: the poems and novels, world's fairs and parks, houses and city halls, etc. We will study the literature, fine arts, philosophy and history of San Francisco both for their own sakes and for the sake of understanding the essential personality of the city that made these works possible.

Grading

Mid-term examination: March 19 -- 30% of final grade

Final examination: May 21, 10:45 - 1:15-- 60% of final grade

Building Visit essay: May 21-- 10% of final grade

Only written medical excuses are allowed for missing an examination. No make-up examinations will be given.

Percentages are approximate. Other factors, such as class participation, may also affect the final grade.

Required Readings

Reading deadlines are as follows:

Jan. 30: Introduction & "The Diary of Father Santa Maria," Kotzebue, Chamisso, Choris

Feb.. 6: Dana, Filings, California Star

Feb. 11: The Annals of San Francisco, Emperor Norton, Dame Shirley; accounts by Russailh, Rosales, Taylor

Feb. 18: Harte and Twain 

Feb. 27: Bierce, Norris, London

March 3: Irwin, Burgess

March 9: Harris, Field, Genthe

By the first exam, you should have read chapters 1-6; by the final exam, chapters 7 & 8.

You should read this book by April 21

 

Recommended:

Building Visits

I. By the first examination, you should visit the Mission Dolores. On the exam, I will ask you one or more of these questions:

A. When was the Mission first built?

B. What building materials is the Mission made of?

C. Who painted the chevron patterns on the ceiling?

D. Can you name at least two famous people buried at the Mission?

II. For the final examination, you should visit one of the following buildings:

A. The Haas-Lilienthal House - 2007 Franklin

B. Grace Cathedral - 1051 Taylor

C. The Columbarium - 1 Lorraine Center

D. Rincon Center - 101 Spear (in SOMA)

You will be required to answer the following questions in either web pages or an essay:

A. When was the building built, and by whom?

B. What was the purpose of the building? Was (or is) it adequate for that purpose?

C. How was the building supposed to impress you? Does it succeed?

D. What does the building express about San Francisco at the time when the structure was built?

 

Essay - Your essay should be from 10-12 pages in length. It will be evaluated on the basis of both form and content (check your spelling and diction!)

Need some help writing the essay? Try THIS

Lecture Slides

To view most of these presentations you will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader

Contacting Me

Professor Arthur Chandler
Office: HUM 409
Phone: 338-1099 or 338-1830 (Department Office)
Email: arthurc@sfsu.edu

HUM 376, "San Francisco," is a course in General Education cluster, "Dynamics of the City."

For information about using this class to fulfill G.E. requirements, see the University Bulletin