courses of instruction - Lafayette College

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
examined in its historical, cultural, and
technological context through contempo
rary and modern sources and, for Chartres
and Brunelleschi's Dome, computer
analysis of structure. A field trip to New
York, visits to Skillman Library to examine
the College's Egyptian papyrus and
medieval manuscript pages, guest faculty
speakers, and student presentations enrich
the course. Ms. AM, Ms. Sinkevic
070. Chemistry and Art. The course
begins with an examination of the
relationship between science and art,
including similarities and differences in
the role of creativity, careful observation,
expression of thought and emotion, etc.
This is followed by a technical examina
tion of light, color, and the chemistry of
many artists' materials. The role of
chemistry in several recent restorations,
including those of the Sistine and
Brancacci Chapels, is examined, and
associated ethical issues are discussed.
The course concludes with an examina
tion of the use of chemical methods to
ascertain the authenticity of artworks.
Ms. Walters
071. Race and Class. Are race and class
inseparable? Does a consideration of
either term inevitably lead to a discussion
of the other? How do these arguably
overlapping categories determine the way
people think of and define themselves?
These are among the questions addressed
in discussions about race and class in
literature, popular culture, current events,
and class members' daily lives.
Mr. Washington
072. Power, Principle, and Personality in
American Leadership. This seminar
explores, through biographies, the roles
of political principle and public personal
ity in the rise to power and use of power
by presidents, governors, and mayors,
such as Washington, Lincoln, Nixon, and
others. Of particular interest are the interac
tions of image and substance in the exercise
of democratic power. Students write a
biography of a living leader through
personal interviews and documentary
research based on insights from the
biographical readings. Mr. Kincaid
074. Questers of Extremes. After
considering a tradition in classical Greek
and Roman thought that extolled the
value of moderation in thought and
behavior, this seminar examines a set of
texts by or concerning questers of
extremes that is, figures who in different
times and places distinguished themselves
through their pursuit of immoderate,
transcendent ends. Particular questers
studied include, but are not limited to, an
ancient conqueror (Alexander the Great),
a medieval saint (Joan of Arc), a modern
novelist (Yukio Mishima), and a
contemporary young adventurer (Chris
McCandless). Mr. Ziolkowski
075. Psychological Warfare and
Propaganda. In contemporary society,
people are targets of an overwhelming
barrage of mass persuasion efforts seeking
to influence how they think and what they
value. This seminar analyzes the patterns,
motives, and effects of these efforts.
Drawing on the history of propaganda
and modern research in experimental
psychology, students examine propaganda
in action not just the tactics, but why
they often work and how people can
protect themselves from manipulation.
Mr. McGlone
076. Land of Mystery: The Language
and Culture of Modern China. Though
China is the world's most populous
nation, a military superpower, and an
increasingly dominant presence in
international commerce, Westerners often
view the Chinese and their rich heritage as
inscrutable. In this seminar, cultural
practices and values of modern China are
examined through the eyes of traditional
society and the "ancient Chinese
proverbs." As an integral part of this
experience, students learn the rudiments
of Chinese pronunciation and acquire a
basic Chinese vocabulary. Mr. Bennett
078. Popular Culture. This seminar
analyzes postwar intellectual trends to
discern differences among mass culture,