HUMANITIES DISCUSSION 1

Must be done within 4 hours

Answer the following Discussion each with minimum 120 words and 1 scholarly reference.

1. 1.       Listen to one (1) composition (i.e., for a symphony) by Beethoven, a transitional figure between classical and romantic music. Identify the composition that you listened to, and determine whether you would characterize the chosen composition as either the Classical or Romantic style of music. Explain the key features that lead you to your conclusion. Identify one (1) modern musician who you believe was great at one type of music yet pioneered another.
2. 2.       Select one (1) example of a literary work or a work of visual art from the 1800s—either Romantic or Realist in style—that responds in some way to the Industrial Revolution. Identify the work and the artist or writer, describe its features and style, and explain the manner in which it responds to the Industrial Revolution. Next, describe one (1) example of how either black slaves or white abolitionists used literature or the visual arts as a form of protest against slavery. Identify one (1) specific literary or artistic work of our day that effectively protests a social injustice.

Supported reading material:

Beethoven

•             Chapter 27 (pp. 906-912), Beethoven, qualities of the Romantic style in music

•             The Beethoven-Haus Website at http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=portal_en (Note: Click on Digital Archives > Works by Ludwig von Beethoven; then find one [1] of his symphonies and listen to a clip.

•             Beethoven’s Eroica at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XL2ha18i5w and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RFG5rGVL1s

Art Reacting to Social RealitiesBeethoven

•             Chapter 28 (pp. 920-948), art and literature in Industrial Revolution; Chapter 28 (pp. 930-936), slavery

•             The Museum of Fine Art in Ghent, Belgium (MSK Gent) —Romantic and Realist Art of the 1800s at http://www.mskgent.be/en/collection/1820-romanticism-and-realism/romanticism-and-realism

•             New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art—French Realist Art of the 1800s at http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rlsm/hd_rlsm.htm

•             Haven’s article on Goodman’s scholarship on art protesting slavery before the Civil War at http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/february18/artists-slavery-protests-021809.html

•             Art and Slavery article at http://www.realhistories.org.uk/articles/archive/the-art-of-slavery.html