Planning of a Humanistic Course for College Freshmen in Literature and Other Arts

FAIN: FB-10490-70

Marlene B. Davis
College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA 23186-0002)

Freshman course focusing on themes of contemporary concern--loss of innocence, war, man's need for myth--in literary works, films, paintings, and music. Designed for culturally deprived college freshmen, particularly black students at Hampton. ABSTRACT: Development of a course for freshmen at Hampton Institute (and freshmen with similar needs at other institutions) in literature and related arts. Course organized in series of units, each devoted to a theme of contemporary concern--loss of innocence, war, man's need for myth. In each unit the student study a group of works concerned with the theme--literary works, films, paintings, music. Most Hampton students--predominantly rural Blacks--come to their freshman year in college with a sense of cultural inferiority and alienation. Traditional freshman literature courses, with their emphasis on genre, forms, and techniques, leave them ill at ease. New course will help them to learn that art, particularly literature, can assist in the process of individual self-discovery.