ImportantPlease Note:
In the Term 3 and 4 required courses of the Arts and Culture Profile, students must choose one course from each of two different disciplines. For example, if you take The Novel (a Literature course) in Term 3, then you can’t take Creative Writing Workshop in Term 4. This is to encourage exposure to a breadth of disciplines.
The Course List displayed here is for the most recent version of the program only.
Current students should always consult their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) on myDawson.
Term 1
Course Number
Course Name
C - L - H
Hrs
Concentration
___-___-__
ALC List 1- Choose 1
1 - 2 - 3
45
Choose one course from the list of options below:
530-911-DW: Scripting for Media A course designed to explore the basics of writing for various media. Students experiment with numerous forms of contemporary storytelling such as narrative film, documentary, television and interactive media. Students will use creative techniques and processes that they will apply to the development of original works throughout the term, working independently and in teams.
550-921-DW: Introduction to Singing This course will introduce students to the basic principles of singing and vocal techniques. Students will be taught the fundamental elements of music theory as well as how to harmonize contemporary songs through a creative collaborative process.
502-941-DW: Journalism: Writing News Stories Writing News Stories, offered in the first term and open to all students in the ALC program, can be taken as a stand-alone course, or as part of the Journalism minor along with Writing Feature Stories, Journalism and the Web, and Ethics of Journalism. In the Writing News Stories course, students will learn how to write leads and headlines, how to organize and develop stories, and how to quote and attribute. They will also practice interview techniques, and class activities may simulate those one would encounter in a newsroom. Assignments can include critiquing news articles from various newspapers and the writing of news stories focused on the Dawson community, as well as local, provincial, federal, and world news, depending on the focus of the instructor. Students will be encouraged to submit assignments to the school newspaper, The Plant.
511-912-DW: Drawing Techniques The expressive power of drawing as a visual language is introduced and investigated through the exploitation of various drawing techniques. Working from observation of live models, objects, the environment, and from imagined forms, the students will acquire skills while sketching and rendering with a number of basic drawing materials. Through representation and abstraction, they will apply their research and learn compositional strategies to express their ideas visually. Historical and contemporary trends in drawing approaches will be examined through presentations, and students will have an opportunity to discuss and critique their drawings as explored in studio or independently.
585-912-DW: Exploring Creativity Creativity plays an important role in every field of human endeavour: from the arts, to science, to politics and commerce, and in the choices and challenges of everyday life. It also has ramifications at the societal and global levels; participating meaningfully in an increasingly complex, evolving and uncertain world requires creativity. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the models, tools, techniques, roles, and applications of creativity, including both traditional and technologically mediated forms of art and design. In addition, students will be encouraged to develop their own, personalized understanding of the definitions, nature and applications of creativity.
530-944-DW: Sound Practices The description for this course is not available at this time.
550-934-DW: Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar The description for this course is not available at this time.
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ALC List 2- Choose 1
Choose one course from the list of options below:
370-913-DW: Religion and Art What is religious art and what makes art religious? This course will survey a variety of artistic expressions from a number of religious traditions which draw on spiritual themes, are inspired by religious experiences or texts, and which serve an important role in religious practice and belief. Some of the themes which this course will explore are: visualization and action within the cosmos, passion and religious ecstasy, the material culture of personal devotion, icons and iconoclasm, depictions of the miraculous, and the relationship between word and image. The objects and images explored will be drawn from a number of religious traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and/or First Nations
340-913-DW: Philosophy and Culture Though we might not recognize it on first glance, philosophy holds a central place in contemporary culture, as the questions addressed by philosophers—concerning the meaning of life, the nature of reality, the limits of knowledge, and the justification of our values—are precisely the questions that are posed and examined by artists and writers throughout the world, currently and throughout history. In this course, we will examine both how philosophical ideas have helped shape and define contemporary culture, and how philosophy, as a method, may offer us a number of tools to help us better understand, appreciate, navigate and communicate in an increasingly diverse and interconnected culture.
520-913-DW: Cave to Renaissance Art From the first stirrings of the mythic imagination to the sensibilities of the Renaissance, this course examines the dynamic evolution of visual art and architecture of this era. Topics that connect past art production to current practice are explored targeting artworks from ancient societies and contemporary culture. Student research includes topics that encompass the pyramids of Egypt, medieval castles, Renaissance palaces, body markings and artistic enterprise within a global context. An exploration of themes such as shamanism, notions of beauty and the divine, gender, images of authority, religious and political conflict, patronage and the emergence of the artist, facilitate the student’s awareness of how visual art reflects socio-cultural aspirations and relevance. Discussion, media presentations, lectures, field trips to museums and galleries, oral presentations and written research will be key components of this course.
530-914-DW: Cinema and Culture What is the cultural significance of film and related media? Cinema and Culture provides an overview of the diverse cultural responses to film. Through exposure to a range of media, from historical to contemporary, including foreign and independent films, students will learn how to contextualize and interpret the social and cultural values expressed.
550-901-DW: Appreciating Music This course will help students to develop their aesthetic creative & critical listening skills. It will introduce students to the concepts and terminology required to understand and appreciate music. Through the works of outstanding artists, students will be exposed to a diversity of musical styles and genres. Students will also learn how to listen perceptively to the techniques composers use to achieve their artistic goals.
560-913-DW: Concept and Craft in Theatre Students will be exposed to major movements and innovators of modern and contemporary theatre, the impact of their theories on the culture and their influence on theatre craft areas such as acting, playwriting, design, and directing. The actor’s tools will be developed through a variety of approaches to scene work with exercises to extend the vocal, physical and creative potential. Students will also attend a theatrical performance with the focus of relating this field assignment to the themes in the course.
502-913-DW: Culture Without Borders As its name indicates, the course Culture Without Borders will explore and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity in today’s world. Through selected topics related to language and culture, students will be able to recognize and appreciate trends, characteristics, and forms of expression that distinguish different societies and shed light on how they view the world. Describing, contextualizing and comparing such diverse cultural expressions will allow us to appreciate each other’s differences, but, most importantly, highlight what we all have in common. Possible class activities include selected readings, class discussions, individual and group work, audio-visual presentations, guest speakers, etc.
511-913-DW: Digital Art This course is an introduction to art making with the computer. Through demonstrations, practical exercises and a series of extended projects, the student will explore the computer both as an imaginative research tool and as a viewing platform. The student will explore cultural diversity through the computer interface, situate computer imagery as a distinct and unique means of expression and will interpret a personal world view through digital art projects. Through directed critiques and discussions, the student will compare established forms of art with works in digital media and will situate the products of the digital representation in the tradition of cultural objects from here and elsewhere.
603-913-DW: World Literature World Literature, offered in the first term of the Literature Profile and open to all students in the ALC program, is a study of works from different periods and cultures in history, offering the experience of reading across a broad base of literature and culture. In this course, students will be introduced to literary texts from various regions of the world, such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These texts will be studied chronologically, thematically, or by region. By studying a historical range of texts from various cultures and traditions, students will gain a greater appreciation of the cultural diversity found in their own contemporary world and begin to recognize themes that unite our collective human experience. This course often includes an assignment that invites students to attend a cultural event or visit an exhibit. As well, students may be encouraged to write at least one essay that incorporates secondary research as well as literary analysis.
585-913-DW: The Networked World Networks have become the dominant metaphor of the 21st century. This course gives students an introduction to the art, science and theory of networks, examines a diverse range of technocultural products and practices, and explores their ramifications in the virtual, sociocultural, and physical worlds. Among other topics, this course will examine how different societies develop original forms of expression using technological tools, such as the World Wide Web. For example, how Hacktivism, new forms of Networked Art, and alternate models of audience participation and engagement such as social media, tactical media and pervasive games have emerged. Other current themes like high frequency trading, global security and surveillance programs, and crypto currencies may be presented, as well as related works by artists and designers from various cultural backgrounds.
502-113-DW
Introduction to Arts and Culture
2 - 2 - 3
60
Description:
This required course will introduce students to the Arts and Culture profile from a multi-disciplinary perspective so as to situate the study of artistic expression within the evolution of art and society. Focusing on at least three key periods or movements, and through a series of case studies, students will consider such questions as: who produces and has produced art and why; the value and purpose different societies and different artists have attached to artistic creation; the impact of social and technological development on art and of art on society; the distinction between high and popular culture; the impact of “mass” culture; and the multiple perspectives from which an artistic creation can be studied and appreciated. Students will go on at least two outings so as to encourage their exploration of different modes of artistic expression. They will also have an assignment built around a visit to the library and library research.
340-914-DW: Why Art Matters Art plays a central role in defining culture – all culture, throughout all of human history. But what exactly is art? How do we decide what counts as art and what doesn’t? Can there be any objective definition of “art”? What would that definition look like? This is the sort of question we begin with in a philosophical study of art or aesthetics. Is art defined by the emotional reaction it inspires? Does it require an audience? Do the intentions of the artist matter? Does art teach us anything? Does art convey truths? How do aesthetic values compare to ethical ones – and to what extent is art connected to ethics, or politics, or gender, or culture? Why, and on what basis do we value it? How do we compare artworks? And ought we preserve art for future generations? In short, why does art matter? This is the question we will tackle in this course.
520-914-DW: Contemporary Art Students will embark on an historical and critical exploration of art production from the modern period to the present day. Students will examine major trends, theories and controversies in the field of art history by focusing on its evolution in a global context since the mid-20th century. Taking into account topics such as Cubism, Dada, Pop art, Conceptual art, Environmental art, Street art, gender issues, ethnic diversity and various Postmodern debates, students will become familiar with artists and art movements in context. Beyond this, students will be able to successfully engage in comparative analyses and identify links with other fields of study. Important elements of this course include class discussions, guest lectures, visits to museums, galleries, artist-run centers, studios and/or private art foundations.
530-916-DW: Cinema Styles “Create your own visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.” This creative advice from legendary filmmaker Orson Welles underlies this course introducing students to the diversity of cinematic production. A wide range of filmic expression is examined through a variety of film forms, genres and styles. The class will examine contemporary and past works notable for their aesthetic approach and storytelling techniques, as well as their unique treatment of social realities.
530-917-DW: Emergent Media We live in a rapidly evolving media landscape. This course provides an introduction to the skills required to explore, live, and create within it. Without requiring any specific technical skills, this class prepares students to anticipate the benefits and pitfalls of an ever-changing media environment, examining how emerging digital media define and affect the cultures that arise around them, as well as exploring issues of access through social media and emerging citizen- and community-media movements. This course will sometimes be offered as an online or blended course.
560-914-DW: Plays and Playwrights This course involves analyzing plays from different periods from Sophocles to Shakespeare to Modern and Contemporary. Students will analyze style, theme and characterization in plays and explore the playwrights, their philosophies and reactions to world events. The process of playwriting itself will be scrutinized including an examination of structure, plot, dialogue and scene development. Students will visit a working theatre, attend a theatrical performance and will have the opportunity to learn some fundamentals of acting and/or playwriting.
502-914-DW: Focus on Culture How does language affect and how is it affected by contemporary culture? Is texting really bringing us to the end of the world as we know it? How do new words get created? How do ads manage to make us buy things we don’t need? Why do young people say “like” all the time? How does your linguistic baggage shape who you are? Why do people use words from different languages in the same sentence (or switch languages at will)? Why do we all prefer to count and/or swear in one of our languages but not in another? Can language be sexist? These are the kind of mysteries that this course will attempt to shed light on, through discussions, readings, audiovisual presentations (documentaries, podcasts, blogs), individual and group projects, etc. Eavesdropping on people’s conversations around Dawson and analyzing one’s own text messages may be part of the fun!
511-914-DW: Introduction to Painting This introductory studio course in painting will establish a working knowledge of paint mixing and application, painting supports, colour theory and composition. Painting projects will explore modes of representation and abstraction. Students will work with acrylic colours to discover the many ways paint can be handled. Students will learn subtractive colour mixing while investigating genres such as still life, figure, portrait and landscape. Scale will be considered in paintings of various sizes on different supports. Students will become aware of different periods and approaches to painting to help focus their own preferences. In-class critiques will incorporate an understanding of relevant terminology.
603-914-DW: Literary Currents Literary Currents, offered in the second term of the Literature Profile and open to all students in the ALC program, focuses on a particular period or movement chosen by the instructor such as Romanticism, the Gothic novel, the Victorian era, nineteenth-century Russian realism, Literature of the Absurd, or Postmodernism, among many possible examples. Students may compare texts by different authors in the same period, by authors in adjacent periods, as well as by artists working in different media in related movements. As well, students may be encouraged to write at least one essay that incorporates secondary research as well as literary analysis.
585-914-DW: The Art of Game Design Games have been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years. Currently games integrate all forms of media—including storytelling, architecture, cinema, voice, music, acting, animation, and artwork—into immersive, interactive experiences. This course provides an historical and cultural overview of play and gaming, including current issues and trends. It also explores the art of creating enriching experiences for audiences through game design, with particular emphasis on systems and the interplay of emergent levels and their aesthetic implications.
550-904-DW: Jazz & Blues Culture The description for this course is not available at this time.
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ALC List 4- Choose 1
1 - 2 - 3
45
Choose one course from the list of options below:
420-915-DW: Computer Communication of Arts and Culture You will explore the ways in which literary and artistic endeavours are communicated through the Internet. You will develop an awareness of the cultural diversity of people's lives, both past and present as expressed on the Web. You will acquire the skills to critically analyze how the Internet allows artists to express themselves in various formats. You will learn the computer skills needed to present your work effectively on the Web, in on-screen presentations and on social media.
530-919-DW: Video Basics Video Basics provides a disciplined introduction to the principal techniques involved in video production, including the recording and editing of video and sound, as well as the essential baselines for organizing a proper project. Various documentary and narrative approaches will be explored. Students have access to DSLR cameras, sound recording and lighting equipment, for both in class and home use. The department's labs have up-to-date computers and software for in-class and evening work sessions.
550-922-DW: Vocal Expression This course will introduce students to the principles of the vocal mechanism, sound production, pitch control, rhythmic accuracy, and musical expression. Students will gain an understanding of basic ear training, musical vocabulary and theory; they will learn how to apply these concepts to singing.
560-915-DW: Acting Workshop Students will learn fundamental acting techniques and text analysis through monologue and scene work, while also exploring major training areas such as character development, voice, movement and improvisation. The student actor will gain valuable experience in elements of stage craft such as physical presentation, stage business and blocking. Plays from the modern or contemporary repertoire will be selected for scene work. This course will equip the student with basic acting skills as well as an understanding of the rehearsal process from the first reading of the text to the performance. The class will visit a working theatre and each student will also attend at least one theatrical performance with the focus of relating this field assignment to the themes and content of the course.
511-915-DW: Sculpture: Creativity and Processes Using topical research as a starting point to incite their creativity, students will produce sculptural works using both traditional and contemporary approaches. Students will learn to differentiate the characteristics of various techniques as they apply them to their creative process such as modeling, direct casting in clay, carving in plaster, and assembling with wood and found objects. Students will visit one exhibition to explore the creative potential of sculptural techniques and processes. Students will learn to comment and evaluate their creative projects, applying the compositional principles, concepts and vocabulary taught in the course.
603-915-DW: Literature and Creative Practice Literature and Creative Practice, offered in the second term and open to all students in the ALC program, focuses on the process of writers in the development and dissemination of their work. The theory and practice of creative techniques and their application in different genres are components of the course. To this end, students may study primary texts (for instance, poems or poetry collections, fiction, drama, or work in other genres) as well as authors’ commentary on the creative process, in the form of published articles, books, letters, or interviews. Students will respond to literary works through careful analysis and experimentation. Engaging with aspects of creative practice considered in the course, students will develop their own critical and creative work. Creative practices students will engage in may include, but are not limited to, theatrical productions, the creation of an anthology, and creative writing, all of which may be incorporated into the ALC Festival.
585-915-DW: Computer Music and Sound Art Students are introduced to the expressive possibilities of the elements of sound and music through acoustic, analog and digital interactive media. Students explore a variety of materials and techniques, including visual programming languages, to create interactive sound and music projects. Open to students with or without a musical background.
502-943-DW: Journalism: Writing Feature Stories The description for this course is not available at this time.
530-945-DW: Media Techniques The description for this course is not available at this time.
550-935-DW: Introduction to Pick-style Guitar The description for this course is not available at this time.
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Required-Choose 1
Choose one course from the list of options below:
370-215-DW: Religion and Popular Culture Because popular culture both reflects and affects the society in which it is situated, it contains many references to the religions practiced within that society. These references can be explicit or implicit, conscious or unconscious. In this course we will focus on a number of particular cultural objects containing these references, examining the religious components inherent in the objects and analyzing the way in which their meanings have or have not changed with the transition from religious to secular context. This can help us analyze some of the transformations occurring within our society even as we live through those changes. In addition to examining some of these objects together as a class, students will choose an individual object to analyze and will present their findings in writing as well as sharing these with the rest of the class in an oral presentation.
520-222-DW: Renaissance to Modern Art From Leonardo to the atomic bomb, the critical centuries from the 16th century to the Modern era witnessed extraordinary changes in the visual arts and globalization. By an examination of art works, artists, art movements and institutions dealing with themes such as portraiture and power, conquest and revolution, perception and conception, realism and abstraction, expressionism and protest, this course will consider the increasingly complex visual language, ideas and rapid socio-cultural evolution that shaped diverse forms of representation from the 16th century to the Modern era. Course components will include lectures, analysis, discussion of specific art works, methodologies, social contexts and ideas, media presentations and gallery visits, with an exploration forged with contemporary art practice and ideas, where relevant.
502-232-DW: A Way with Words The main aim of the course A Way with Words is to introduce students to the world of academic writing and research. Students will explore various cultural themes through a variety of information from both academic and non-academic sources. Students will compare and contrast the defining characteristics of each type of information source and learn to evaluate the credibility of a source as well as to conduct appropriate academic/scholarly research. Students will also develop the ability to think critically, to extract the main ideas from the source material, and to establish connections between these ideas. The course will also help students express their ideas clearly and coherently in conformity with the conventions of academic writing.
General Education
603-10x-DW
English 102 or 103
2 - 2 - 3
60
Please see the English Department's offering of courses for:
420-916-DW: Computer Graphics and Web Design You will create images using graphics creation software for display on screen and in print. You will design, code and publish webpages using HTML/CSS with and without web development software. You will document your creative process as part of the realization of your web and graphics projects. In support of these goals, you will evaluate how existing websites communicate their intended meaning and you will investigate intellectual property law as applied to computer graphics and web content.
520-916-DW: Decoding Visual Art While exploring current trends in exhibition making and curatorial practice, students will research and develop a proposal for a ‘dream exhibition’ based on a concept/theme and a context/location of their choice. Art historical methodologies will be employed to compose interpretations for proposed visual art works (historical and/or contemporary art, craft, street art, photography, architecture, new media art, etc.). Led by student interests, the course will engage with topics such as race, gender, class, mental health, kinship/family, the environment, Indigenous knowledge, humour, identity and more. The final version of the dream exhibition will include a written text combined with media such as images, video, and audio. Exhibition visits, workshops and guest lectures will enrich the theoretical and practical aspects of the final project.
530-921-DW: Animation Atelier Animators breathe life into inanimate characters and make them come alive on screen. This course introduces several traditional/2D animation and experimental techniques to the students. Students learn key terminology and practice production techniques to create fluid action. Through interactive exercises, students explore squash, stretch and other actions with characters. The students are introduced to a series of short animation techniques and exercises that finally culminate to a short animated film production by the end of the term.
560-916-DW: Performance Workshop In this course students will continue to develop fundamental acting skills while collaborating in mounting a theatre piece. The process will begin with auditions and casting, and proceed through script analysis and rehearsals to presentation. In addition, according to the identified needs and special requirements of the script, as well as areas of interest and aptitudes demonstrated by individual class members, students will take on technical and other production-related tasks and responsibilities in key areas such as design, handling of props/costumes, dramaturgy, assistant direction, videography, stage management and publicity. This course will culminate in a studio performance.
511-916-DW: Drawing and Ideas Students will explore the medium of drawing in two related ways: ongoing exposure to historical and contemporary forms of drawing through planned fieldtrips to museums and galleries, and by developing a personal approach to drawing related to ideas addressed during the fieldtrips as well as to contemporary culture at large. These may include identity, gender, and politics to name a few. Through a series of in-class projects and assignments, students will learn introductory forms of composition through the exploration of material, methods and techniques; for example, line quality, shading and hatching as well as the exploration of dry and wet media such as ink, charcoal, and graphite.
603-916-DW: Creative Writing Creative Writing, offered in the third term and open to all students in the ALC program, gives students the opportunity to practice writing techniques used in a variety of genres. Attention is given to developing students' sense of craft through study, writing exercises, and critique. Other learning activities may include lectures, readings, discussions, presentations, editing practice, and evaluation or self-evaluation exercises. Through reading, listening, discussion, and practice, students gain awareness of the tools of creative writers and the skills to use them in their own work. To this end, the study of poetics constitutes part of the course. Carefully reading and responding to others’ work are also components of the course. Revising and editing are essential activities for the writing assignments. At the end of the course, students submit a portfolio of work developed during the term. Students will be encouraged to submit to Creations, the Literature Profile journal.
585-916-DW: Game Making Games integrate many forms of research and media—including game design, narrative design, level design, artwork, animation, cinema, sound design, voice acting, music, acting, psychology, history, politics, economics, etc. —into immersive, interactive experiences. In Game Making, students will be introduced to a game engine and development tools, form teams and plan and build a prototype of a game based on selected game and level design documents.
530-946-DW: Communication Practice The description for this course is not available at this time.
530-947-DW: Video Production The description for this course is not available at this time.
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Required - Choose 1
2 - 1 - 3
45
Choose one course from the list of options below:
340-303-DW: Philosophy: Thinking for Ourselves In a world which moves so quickly there often isn’t even time to think, it is imperative to develop the skills necessary to engage in critical reflection and interpretation, to reason effectively and creatively, to separate truth from illusion, and to judge, act and communicate in ways that lead to a meaningful and authentic life. In this course, we will pursue those skills by focusing on the art of doing philosophy — studying and practicing the critical and creative reasoning that philosophical thinking demands, and which is increasingly important to a fulfilling engagement with life in a modern, fast-paced technological culture. Through our study of philosophy and the philosophical method, we will be more prepared than ever to think for ourselves, to challenge and defend ideas, to find meaning and to articulate our identities and place in the world.
550-302-DW: Music History This course is an introduction to the aesthetics of art music. Students will explore a variety of aesthetic theories as well as the principal composers, genres, and style periods of Western art and music.
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Required- Choose 1
Choose one course from the list of options below:
530-314-DW: Film Theory Film Theory and Criticism provides students with the necessary technical, aesthetic and critical vocabulary for viewing, discussing and writing about film of all kinds. It also presents an overview of critical theories that have influenced filmmakers, critics, and spectators, over time. Lectures, group discussions and screenings comprise the content, while assignments include research and creative projects.
530-315-DW: Communication Theory Communication is an intricate and complex process of information exchange common to animals, humans and machines. This course examines a range of communication processes, considering the stakes and outcomes of each type. Among other questions, we’ll ask whether language makes humans unique within the animal world and if our thoughts and emotions can be expressed as algorithmics. Will AI make human creativity irrelevant? Different? Does social media connect or isolate us? Coursework will involve a review of major communication theories, and the conception, development and execution of a collaborative, media-based research-creation project.
511-314-DW: Introduction to Printmaking The foundations of the print were laid with the first incised line on a rock wall, in stone, bone, horn or metal. The course will trace printmaking’s evolution from a reproduction technique to its role as an original medium of contemporary expression. Students will learn the vocabulary specific to printmaking allowing them to appreciate the qualities of an original print. Students will explore the intaglio, relief and/or stencil processes through the creation of original prints. Technical exploration will include the use of carving tools for incising plates, the use of rollers and squeegees for inking, paper preparation, and the setting of presses. A small edition of original prints will be produced in each technique explored.
511-315-DW: Introduction to Internet Art and Culture This course explores new media art and culture through the use of the Internet as a platform for art making. Assigned readings and lectures will compare artistic and literary works created in the vernacular of Internet with traditional art media. Through written and practical assignments, art projects and guided critiques, the student will analyze the use of visual language in cultural objects, the nature of the network and the computer interface as well as the application of the digital platform for art.
603-313-DW: The Novel The Novel is a required third-term course in the Literature Profile taught in tandem with Literary Theory and Criticism as a co-requisite. The course may be presented as an overview of the novel's development, from the eighteenth-century to the present day, and may focus on representative novels from various literary periods. Students will analyze the novels' formal and literary elements as well as relationships to their social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. In coordination with Literary Theory and Criticism, the course also considers the novels’ connection to contemporary critical approaches.
585-313-DW: Interactive Media Workshop This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the language of interaction and interactive media, and to provide a context within which they can develop a more profound appreciation for the creative possibilities associated with these rich, rapidly evolving forms of expression. By examining and analyzing the works of others, and by conceiving, designing, creating and documenting their own individual and group interactive projects, students move themselves towards a greater fluidity with the creative possibilities of these forms of media. Works could involve interactive sculptures, installations, music or sound-based projects, toys, performances, games, and narratives, among others.
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Option Course 1
Choose one course from the list of options below:
550-924-DW: Vocal Performance This course will provide students with musical and vocal techniques required to create and produce performance projects; students will gain an understanding of the vocal mechanism and sound production, as well as the musical expressive elements that are required for song performances. Students will be introduced to vocal and musical terminology as well as critical feedback tools in order to critique their solo, duo and group performances.
560-923-DW: Dance: Style and Form It’s a dance buffet! Jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, ballroom and more. Open to students of all levels, from novice to advanced. Improve your coordination, posture, strength, flexibility, rhythm, musicality, expressivity and confidence. Learn to move efficiently and fluidly in dance and in everyday life. Discover the joy of dance!
502-944-DW: Journalism and the Web In this course, students will learn how to conceive, produce and publish creative forms of news stories using a variety of electronic media such as blogs, social media platforms, discussion forums, newsgroups, citizen journalism, podcasts, email chains, messaging apps, and newsletters. The course may include a collective thematic as well as an individual orientation.
511-923-DW: Collage and Mixed Media Collage derives from the French “coller”; a technique coined by the early 20th century cubist painters Picasso and Braque. Students will discover different collage techniques in 2D and/or 3D assemblage, through which they will explore strategies for choosing and combining suggestive images and/or objects, and finding ways of composing a collage and/or an assemblage. Strategies will be developed for visual research and idea development, and for choosing and incorporating thematic elements. The acquisition of technical skills will enable the production of art projects in 2D and/or 3D assemblage.
511-924-DW: Photo Art This course explores the use of photography as an integral component in art making. Students will create mixed media artworks that incorporate photography as both a research tool and as a medium. Referencing their own digital images, they will explore a range of materials and techniques to address and create assigned art projects. Through personal expression, students explore notions of time, space, identity, reality, artifice and transformation. Instruction includes basic composition and an introduction to art techniques such as drawing, painting, collage and mixed-media.
585-923-DW: Tangible Media: Making Things Interactive In this playful and engaging course, students design simple interactive objects and explore their expressive potential. This is a hands-on, project-based workshop that sits at the intersection of art, crafts, design, and interactive technology. Students experiment with recyclable materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, or found objects like toys, and are introduced to some basic principles of mechanics, simple electronics, and ready-to-use interactive technologies like LittleBits. The course allows non-technical students to discover the creative potential of sculptural physical objects using various forms of interactivity. The functioning of some familiar objects (a child's mechanical toy, for example) is demystified and leveraged towards creative expression, prototyping and speculative design. No previous experience is required for this course; it is intended for a non-technical audience.
550-936-DW: Learning Popular Guitar The description for this course is not available at this time.
340-943-DW: Ethics of Journalism In an age of “fake news,” culture wars, social media filter bubbles, infotainment, and widespread distrust in the media establishment, good journalism seems more vitally important than ever before. But what is good journalism? What standards should journalists follow in reporting news, and what should we as media consumers do to help ensure we are getting true and meaningful information? In this course we’ll develop answers to these questions by examining key aspects of the contemporary news media. These include the essential roles journalism plays in a democratic society, what makes something “news”, how news organizations get revenue, the economic and psychological forces behind misinformation and disinformation, and skills in media literacy. This course offers students a deeper understanding of the nature of good journalism as well as the knowledge and skills to be more media savvy and ethically responsible in producing and consuming news.
530-931-DW: Alternative Cinema This course is designed to provide a college level introduction to alternative media, including experimental film and video, expanded and interactive cinemas. The cultural, historical and artistic origins of these practices are explored, as are the major movements and essential elements within each. Students view, analyze, discuss, and provide critiques of selected works. A theoretical introduction to the creative process is provided through appropriate readings, exercises, group and individual creative projects.
530-932-DW: Animation This course explores the art and technique of frame-by-frame filmmaking, or animation, from the earliest innovations to the more recent productions through the theory and practice. Films are viewed and demonstrations given in order to examine specific animators and their ideas and styles as well as their contribution to significant changes in the history of the animated film. The course is designed to initiate a critical, analytical and creative appreciation of the animated film genre and its role in cinema. Students learn to identify various themes, recognize narrative strategies and stylistic devices and apply them to written and practical assignments.
530-933-DW: Documentary Approaches Is truth really stranger than fiction? This class will examine the rich world of real life storytelling for the big and small screen. Students will explore the history of documentary film production of which Canada is an important player, and examine diverse documentary forms, such as social-issue films, biographies, art films and hybrid approaches. Objects of study will also include new forms of documentary storytelling such as interactive documentaries or “e-docs”, crowd sourced documentaries and documentary games.
550-903-DW: Popular Music Culture This course is an introduction to a diversity of popular styles that flourished after 1945 in the US, Canada and the UK. Students will explore leading styles, major artists and groups, and significant song themes. Emphasis will be given to rock and roll which, in the mid-1950's, revolutionized popular music and has become its predominant expression.
550-923-DW: Vocal Interpretation This course will introduce students to singing and interpreting an eclectic repertoire of contemporary songs. Students will have the opportunity to explore the contextual meaning and significance of song lyrics. Students will be taught the fundamental principles of voice production, theory & ear training.
511-922-DW: Graphic Novels and Artists' Books This course is designed to familiarize students with the relationships between visual images and text by examining representative collected works of both genres. The course will explore two related types of text and image art – the artist's book and the graphic novel. These art forms will be investigated in relationship to their contexts in fine arts and popular culture forms of creative graphic production. Students will produce several artist's books and graphic novels applying both two- and three-dimensional aspects of the art form. This course will identify and investigate the main characteristics of both genres and allow students to develop their skills in representational and abstract image making, while helping further explore the potential for visual communicative through an on-going exposure to historical and contemporary precedents.
603-923-DW: Special Topics in Literature Special Topics in Literature, offered in the third term of the Literature Profile and open to all students in the ALC program, focuses on a collection of literary works related to a particular author, movement, period, society or subculture. Possible topics include a close study of a writing society or group, such as the war poets, the Bloomsbury group, or the Beat Generation; a study of a writer from any period, read in English or in translation; a study of a particular movement, such as, for example, Transcendentalism, Aestheticism, the Harlem Renaissance, or magic realism; as well as other topics, such as medieval literature, women writers, film adaptations of literary works, postcolonial literature, and LGBT literature, among others. The selected topic may complement but will not repeat material from other Literature Profile courses. Students will consider the works in their historical and cultural contexts and study their formal and thematic elements.
585-922-DW: Technoculture and Interactive Media This course critically examines the production and dissemination of interactive media and interactive artworks, including art games, human-machine interfaces, interactive installations and participatory performances. A genealogy of interactive media arts is presented. Notions of feedback, sensory stimulation, procedural expression and the concept of participation are defined and explored through the examination of interactive works by current and historically significant artists and designers.
520-923-DW: Through the Lens: Themes in Photography Photography has come to dominate our contemporary visual world through a meteoric rise as a powerful medium of expression. This course traces that rise by a thematic survey of the doers and shakers who developed the rich language of photography in its diversified global themes, and technical developments. The exploration in this course will encompass but not be limited to studies in portraiture, social and auteur documentary, photojournalistic truth and censorship, landscape and ecology, photography as art, and issues in contemporary photography. Students will develop a critical and analytical understanding of the issues involved through classroom situations, individual research and production, with museum/gallery visits.
609-411-DW: German 4 This course is a continuation of German 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of German by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-411-DW: Spanish 4 This course is a continuation of Spanish 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of Spanish by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-411-DW: Italian 4 This course is a continuation of Italian 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of Italian by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-311-DW: German 3 This course is a continuation of German 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-311-DW: Spanish 3 This course is a continuation of Spanish 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-311-DW: Italian 3 This course is a continuation of Italian 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-211-DW: Spanish 2 This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Spanish life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
611-211-DW: Hebrew 2 This course is a continuation of Hebrew 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Hebrew life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
613-211-DW: Chinese 2 This course is a continuation of Chinese (Mandarin) 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Chinese life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
615-211-DW: Greek 2 This course is a continuation of Greek 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Greek life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-211-DW: German 2 This course is a continuation of German 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of German life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-211-DW: Italian 2 This course is a continuation of Italian 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Italian life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-221-DW: Italian Mother Tongue 2 This course is a continuation of Italian Mother Tongue I. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Italian life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-111-DW: Spanish 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Spanish, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
611-111-DW: Hebrew 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Hebrew, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
613-111-DW: Chinese 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Chinese (Mandarin), formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab. In this course, students will learn the Pinyin phonetic system as well as Chinese characters.
615-111-DW: Greek 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Greek, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-111-DW: Italian 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Italian, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-121-DW: Italian Mother Tongue 1 This is an elementary course intended for students who have a passive knowledge of the Italian language /Italian dialect(s) or equivalent. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-111-DW: German 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of German, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
General Education
603-10x-DW
English 102 or 103
2 - 2 - 3
60
Please see the English Department's offering of courses for:
370-917-DW: Cults and Culture The course explores the origins, beliefs, rituals and social organizations of some of the new religious movements that contribute to the religious landscape of North America. Sociological, historical and psychological approaches will be employed in the study. Among other subjects, the course will discuss theories of conversion, the “brainwashing”/deprogramming controversy, charismatic authority and the ritual processes within these sects. The contentious status of Scientology, the Wiccan and the Raelian traditions will be analyzed, as will their relationships to their host societies. This course represents a scientific and academic study of New Religious Movements and as such maintains a safe and structured environment for students.
530-925-DW: Cinema and Communications: Selected Topics Students will closely examine an issue or practice of social and cultural significance in the realm of cinema and/or communications. Topics can include a particular artist or creator, a body of work, genres and trends, aesthetic or technological approaches and innovations with an eye to ethical concerns, current circumstances and future directions.
530-926-DW: Media and Society This course addresses the significance and consequence of film and related media practices in the life of citizens. Students will view a range of films, from past to present, including foreign and independent films, and learn how to interpret and analyze the cultural values expressed and the films' impact on the social world.
502-917-DW: Multiculturalism Through the Looking Glass This course will take a closer look at the social and personal realities of living with two (or more) cultures and languages. We will analyze the concepts of multiculturalism and multilingualism and the way they have shaped state policies and social attitudes in selected areas around the world. On a more personal level, we will discuss the relationship between language and culture, examine what life with two or more languages/cultures feels like, how cultures combine in an individual, and how (together with language) they affect perspectives, behaviours, and feelings. Students’ understanding of these issues will be enhanced through readings, discussions, audiovisual presentations, guest speakers, individual research, and other learning activities.
602-917-DW: Regards sur le Quebec d'aujourd'hui Dans ce cours, l’élève se familiarisera avec différents aspects de la production artistique québécoise, dont le cinéma, la littérature et la peinture. L’objectif de ce cours est de faciliter la compréhension de la dynamique de l’imaginaire québécois, et d’explorer différents aspects socioculturels et historiques. Il sera invité à visionner des films en classe, à visiter des expositions et à lire des œuvres marquantes de la culture québécoise dans le but de les analyser et de les interpréter. Il apprendra à caractériser les courants artistiques et il pourra ainsi améliorer son vocabulaire lié aux arts, à la littérature et à la communication.
603-917-DW: Literature and Borders Literature and Borders, offered in the fourth term of the Literature Profile and open to all students in the ALC program, is a study of literature that explores notions of place and identity. The texts studied may include, but are not limited to, such themes and topics as national identities, cross-cultural exchanges, First Peoples’ perspectives, gender and cultural difference, travel narratives, the immigrant experience, and Canadian and world politics. Students may be encouraged to write at least one essay that incorporates secondary research as well as literary analysis.
585-917-DW: Interactive Arts: Local to Global This course examines a range of artistic and creative practices that fall under the umbrella of interactive arts. Students look at interactive art and artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and also at the interplay among art, artists, heritage and current cultural environments in local, regional, national and global contexts. The course touches on specific forms of interactive art such as responsive objects, web art, closed-circuit environments, and installations, as well as on broader issues such as control, embodiment and perception.
520-918-DW: Special Topics in Canadian Art The description for this course is not available at this time.
___-___-__
Required- Choose 1
Choose one course from the list of options below:
530-413-DW: Media Lab A course designed to introduce students to the processes involved in planning, designing, and delivering interactive and multi-media projects and events. Projects are developed using media ranging from graphic design tools to video and audio production tools as well as social media. Group projects aim to have students realize a performance and/or media based project from conception to fruition, confronting all the potential obstacles along the way.
511-414-DW: Drawing/Painting Studio Projects This course will introduce students to various techniques in painting and drawing. Students will develop an awareness of the physical properties of painting mediums through a number of exercises exploring the dynamic use of acrylic colours. Use of painting and drawing materials will be developed through both non-representational and figurative exercises. Compositions of colour, line and shape will be explored offering students fundamental expressive structures for working. Students will be encouraged to collect visual source material from sketches and collages to help assemble a bank of images. This studio environment will foster an open yet critical dialogue and response to art-making allowing for greater exploration in future courses. Students will be shown works by known artists from the past and present to help locate and enrich their studio endeavours.
511-415-DW: Sculpture Studio Projects Students will produce sculptural projects using a personal approach to develop their imagination and creativity. Utilizing both traditional and contemporary methods, the projects will include some of the following three-dimensional forms: relief, free standing sculptures, assemblage, mixed media, and performance. Techniques such as modeling, casting, carving, construction and assembling will be taught in fully equipped studios and workshops (metal or wood). A visit to a sculpture exhibition will permit students to cultivate their visual and analytical skills. Students will learn to consider the presentation and cultural context in which their work is produced and presented.
585-413-DW: The Art of Physical Computing This course introduces students to an active language of interactive, physical “making”. Using simple materials, and basic computational, electronic, and mechanical systems as a creative pallet, students create interactive objects, sculptures, toys, and wearable pieces. In doing so, they come to see these technologies as simply another set of tools with which to creatively self-express, experiment, or explore ideas and themes. The emphasis here is on providing students with an opportunity to explore the more tangible forms of interactive media art through the creation of novel physical artifacts.
603-414-DW: Creative Writing: Literature Profile The description for this course is not available at this time.
502-498-DW
Integrating Activity (IA)
1 - 3 - 3
60
The description for this course is not available at this time.
___-___-__
Option Course 2
Choose one course from the list of options below:
607-111-DW: Spanish 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Spanish, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
611-111-DW: Hebrew 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Hebrew, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
613-111-DW: Chinese 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Chinese (Mandarin), formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab. In this course, students will learn the Pinyin phonetic system as well as Chinese characters.
615-111-DW: Greek 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Greek, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-111-DW: Italian 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Italian, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-121-DW: Italian Mother Tongue 1 This is an elementary course intended for students who have a passive knowledge of the Italian language /Italian dialect(s) or equivalent. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-111-DW: German 1 This course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of German, formal or informal. The course will develop four basic language skills: speaking, writing, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. It will focus on basic grammatical structures and vocabulary, controlled and spontaneous expression, oral/written assignments, and an introduction to culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-211-DW: Spanish 2 This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Spanish life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
611-211-DW: Hebrew 2 This course is a continuation of Hebrew 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Hebrew life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
613-211-DW: Chinese 2 This course is a continuation of Chinese (Mandarin) 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Chinese life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
615-211-DW: Greek 2 This course is a continuation of Greek 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Greek life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-211-DW: German 2 This course is a continuation of German 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of German life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-211-DW: Italian 2 This course is a continuation of Italian 1. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Italian life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-221-DW: Italian Mother Tongue 2 This course is a continuation of Italian Mother Tongue I. Emphasis will be placed on conversation, comprehension, reading and writing. This course will also help students to develop a greater appreciation for the various aspects of Italian life and culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-311-DW: German 3 This course is a continuation of German 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-311-DW: Spanish 3 This course is a continuation of Spanish 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-311-DW: Italian 3 This course is a continuation of Italian 2. Students will enrich and perfect their language skills by learning new grammar and vocabulary and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
609-411-DW: German 4 This course is a continuation of German 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of German by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
607-411-DW: Spanish 4 This course is a continuation of Spanish 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of Spanish by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
608-411-DW: Italian 4 This course is a continuation of Italian 3. Students will enrich and perfect their command of Italian by learning advanced grammatical structures, refining their vocabulary, and exploring wider elements of culture. Language learning will be enhanced through the use of various audiovisual media, as well as additional learning activities in the language lab.
340-943-DW: Ethics of Journalism In an age of “fake news,” culture wars, social media filter bubbles, infotainment, and widespread distrust in the media establishment, good journalism seems more vitally important than ever before. But what is good journalism? What standards should journalists follow in reporting news, and what should we as media consumers do to help ensure we are getting true and meaningful information? In this course we’ll develop answers to these questions by examining key aspects of the contemporary news media. These include the essential roles journalism plays in a democratic society, what makes something “news”, how news organizations get revenue, the economic and psychological forces behind misinformation and disinformation, and skills in media literacy. This course offers students a deeper understanding of the nature of good journalism as well as the knowledge and skills to be more media savvy and ethically responsible in producing and consuming news.
511-922-DW: Graphic Novels and Artists' Books This course is designed to familiarize students with the relationships between visual images and text by examining representative collected works of both genres. The course will explore two related types of text and image art – the artist's book and the graphic novel. These art forms will be investigated in relationship to their contexts in fine arts and popular culture forms of creative graphic production. Students will produce several artist's books and graphic novels applying both two- and three-dimensional aspects of the art form. This course will identify and investigate the main characteristics of both genres and allow students to develop their skills in representational and abstract image making, while helping further explore the potential for visual communicative through an on-going exposure to historical and contemporary precedents.
520-923-DW: Through the Lens: Themes in Photography Photography has come to dominate our contemporary visual world through a meteoric rise as a powerful medium of expression. This course traces that rise by a thematic survey of the doers and shakers who developed the rich language of photography in its diversified global themes, and technical developments. The exploration in this course will encompass but not be limited to studies in portraiture, social and auteur documentary, photojournalistic truth and censorship, landscape and ecology, photography as art, and issues in contemporary photography. Students will develop a critical and analytical understanding of the issues involved through classroom situations, individual research and production, with museum/gallery visits.
530-931-DW: Alternative Cinema This course is designed to provide a college level introduction to alternative media, including experimental film and video, expanded and interactive cinemas. The cultural, historical and artistic origins of these practices are explored, as are the major movements and essential elements within each. Students view, analyze, discuss, and provide critiques of selected works. A theoretical introduction to the creative process is provided through appropriate readings, exercises, group and individual creative projects.
530-932-DW: Animation This course explores the art and technique of frame-by-frame filmmaking, or animation, from the earliest innovations to the more recent productions through the theory and practice. Films are viewed and demonstrations given in order to examine specific animators and their ideas and styles as well as their contribution to significant changes in the history of the animated film. The course is designed to initiate a critical, analytical and creative appreciation of the animated film genre and its role in cinema. Students learn to identify various themes, recognize narrative strategies and stylistic devices and apply them to written and practical assignments.
530-933-DW: Documentary Approaches Is truth really stranger than fiction? This class will examine the rich world of real life storytelling for the big and small screen. Students will explore the history of documentary film production of which Canada is an important player, and examine diverse documentary forms, such as social-issue films, biographies, art films and hybrid approaches. Objects of study will also include new forms of documentary storytelling such as interactive documentaries or “e-docs”, crowd sourced documentaries and documentary games.
550-903-DW: Popular Music Culture This course is an introduction to a diversity of popular styles that flourished after 1945 in the US, Canada and the UK. Students will explore leading styles, major artists and groups, and significant song themes. Emphasis will be given to rock and roll which, in the mid-1950's, revolutionized popular music and has become its predominant expression.
550-923-DW: Vocal Interpretation This course will introduce students to singing and interpreting an eclectic repertoire of contemporary songs. Students will have the opportunity to explore the contextual meaning and significance of song lyrics. Students will be taught the fundamental principles of voice production, theory & ear training.
585-922-DW: Technoculture and Interactive Media This course critically examines the production and dissemination of interactive media and interactive artworks, including art games, human-machine interfaces, interactive installations and participatory performances. A genealogy of interactive media arts is presented. Notions of feedback, sensory stimulation, procedural expression and the concept of participation are defined and explored through the examination of interactive works by current and historically significant artists and designers.
603-923-DW: Special Topics in Literature Special Topics in Literature, offered in the third term of the Literature Profile and open to all students in the ALC program, focuses on a collection of literary works related to a particular author, movement, period, society or subculture. Possible topics include a close study of a writing society or group, such as the war poets, the Bloomsbury group, or the Beat Generation; a study of a writer from any period, read in English or in translation; a study of a particular movement, such as, for example, Transcendentalism, Aestheticism, the Harlem Renaissance, or magic realism; as well as other topics, such as medieval literature, women writers, film adaptations of literary works, postcolonial literature, and LGBT literature, among others. The selected topic may complement but will not repeat material from other Literature Profile courses. Students will consider the works in their historical and cultural contexts and study their formal and thematic elements.
502-944-DW: Journalism and the Web In this course, students will learn how to conceive, produce and publish creative forms of news stories using a variety of electronic media such as blogs, social media platforms, discussion forums, newsgroups, citizen journalism, podcasts, email chains, messaging apps, and newsletters. The course may include a collective thematic as well as an individual orientation.
511-923-DW: Collage and Mixed Media Collage derives from the French “coller”; a technique coined by the early 20th century cubist painters Picasso and Braque. Students will discover different collage techniques in 2D and/or 3D assemblage, through which they will explore strategies for choosing and combining suggestive images and/or objects, and finding ways of composing a collage and/or an assemblage. Strategies will be developed for visual research and idea development, and for choosing and incorporating thematic elements. The acquisition of technical skills will enable the production of art projects in 2D and/or 3D assemblage.
511-924-DW: Photo Art This course explores the use of photography as an integral component in art making. Students will create mixed media artworks that incorporate photography as both a research tool and as a medium. Referencing their own digital images, they will explore a range of materials and techniques to address and create assigned art projects. Through personal expression, students explore notions of time, space, identity, reality, artifice and transformation. Instruction includes basic composition and an introduction to art techniques such as drawing, painting, collage and mixed-media.
550-924-DW: Vocal Performance This course will provide students with musical and vocal techniques required to create and produce performance projects; students will gain an understanding of the vocal mechanism and sound production, as well as the musical expressive elements that are required for song performances. Students will be introduced to vocal and musical terminology as well as critical feedback tools in order to critique their solo, duo and group performances.
550-936-DW: Learning Popular Guitar The description for this course is not available at this time.
560-923-DW: Dance: Style and Form It’s a dance buffet! Jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, ballroom and more. Open to students of all levels, from novice to advanced. Improve your coordination, posture, strength, flexibility, rhythm, musicality, expressivity and confidence. Learn to move efficiently and fluidly in dance and in everyday life. Discover the joy of dance!
585-923-DW: Tangible Media: Making Things Interactive In this playful and engaging course, students design simple interactive objects and explore their expressive potential. This is a hands-on, project-based workshop that sits at the intersection of art, crafts, design, and interactive technology. Students experiment with recyclable materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, or found objects like toys, and are introduced to some basic principles of mechanics, simple electronics, and ready-to-use interactive technologies like LittleBits. The course allows non-technical students to discover the creative potential of sculptural physical objects using various forms of interactivity. The functioning of some familiar objects (a child's mechanical toy, for example) is demystified and leveraged towards creative expression, prototyping and speculative design. No previous experience is required for this course; it is intended for a non-technical audience.
