Humanities 304
Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Washington State University -- Spring 2011

Questions will be drawn from the material after the first exam: that's Kitchen Sink Art, Beckett plays, on through to the end of all other materials since. Check the online updated syllabus for an index, and Angel for all art movements and images, music tracks, and links to literature notes and quotes.

I. IDENTIFICATIONS. [Total 26 points.]

Maybe identify who is A... or the composer of the music of Koyaanisqatsi -- that kind of question. These questions will be inflicted individually during the first part of the exam: for the Make-Up Exam, that's Wednesday, April 27th.

II. QUOTATIONS. [Total 50 points.]

A combination of identification and significance questions will follow quotations from the literature, art images, music excerpts, film clips, and the other relevant materials selected for their representativeness of our discussions on key points ever since the previous exam. In the spirit of 21st-century cooperation (?), this section of the exam may be a collaborative effort: that is, you may form human groups of your own selection and size. Just be wise in your establishment of boundaries; there is no reason you need to accept into your group at the last minute any knave who you're not sure you've even seen in class during most of the semester. You certainly may opt to work solo.

III. TAKE-HOME ESSAY. [Total 24 points.]

Answer the following question with brilliant critical thinking, originality, and superb writing skills. The essay should be a virtuoso piece of glory manifested in impressive eloquence, with facile reference to specifics from the materials, properly documented (although no need for a Works Cited list), to the tune of about two or three (2-3) pages, double-spaced. This take-home component of the exam must be submitted as a hard-copy in class on the exam day. It, too, may be a cooperative effort if you want to work with one other person on it.

• Read the Caryl Churchill play This is a Chair. Explain in the essay how we are to understand this play, and discuss the play in the context of the arts and humanities of the late 20th century. (Perhaps we're somewhat less baffled having experienced various artworks, music, other literature, etc. this second half of the semester.)
  Be sure, and this is the tricky part, you associate the play with other arts and humanities encountered in the course. Specifically, find ways to connect the play with related trends or styles in music and art (not just other Churchill works). Realize that the easiest, cheesiest way to accomplish this would be to declare the piece minimalist and drop a couple names such as Philip Glass. The more successful essays will prove cleverer. This component does, it seems to me, require some creative and subtle critical thinking.