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FUSE 101 Topic Preferences

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Prof. Blaine WhisenhuntThe Art Experience

This section of FUSE 101 will introduce students to the visual arts and the variety of art mediums and techniques used to create two- and three-dimensional art. The course focuses on the student’s ability to identify and analyze a work of art in terms of formal elements and principles of design, placing it in historical, social, and cultural context.

Dr. Natalie WlodarczykArts in Healthcare

Research has shown that integrating the arts into healthcare improves overall quality-of-life for patients, promotes holistic healing, and enhances community well-being. This section of FUSE 101 will explore the use of the arts (music, dance, theatre, literature/poetry, visual art, architecture) in a variety of healthcare settings.

Dr. Patricia McEachernThe Animal Rights Debate

Should some animals have legal rights? The animal rights debate is one of the most important social justice movements of your generation. So what do animal rights (AR) activists really want? Do they want pigs to have the right to take ballet lessons? Do they care about animals instead of humans? Are they terrorists who want to kill animal experimenters and blow up buildings? AR activists have been injured, arrested, and imprisoned, and some even killed. Are they, as a group, misunderstood by the public? This class introduces students to some of the major issues involved in the animal rights debate, both domestically and internationally, and explores the complex web of issues that surround this social justice movement.

Prof. Jackie WarrenThe Artistic Practice

Making art, being inspired; where does it all begin?  The class will research and understand the artworld and its history.  How an artist sets up a studio, and how to understand the art market and the contemporary way art is perceived verses the history of artmaking.  Students will use famous artists as mentors to write about the process and philosophy of their work.  Creative methods will be explored from writing, designing with collage, digital methods, and drawing journals.  Beginning with Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo to more contemporary periods with Picasso and Andy Warhol. Visits to the art museum and art galleries and artists’ studios are planned.  We want to explore, learn to appreciate and engage all forms of the artistic practice in the world we live in today.

Dr. Peter BrowningA Life Worth Living

We will look at views of “a life worth living” from a variety of perspectives. They include insights from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism as well as utilitarianism, existentialism, and scientific materialism. We also focus on the challenges of life as a college student from issues of identity, relationships, and mental health to finances and discernment of a career/vocation. At the close of the seminar, participants give presentations on their vocational aspirations.

Asikaa CosgroveHuman-imal

Despite often thinking of ourselves as somehow separate from other creatures, animals have always had a profound effect on the human psyche. From the ancient martial arts of China to the rich mythologies of the Native Americans and from the dark legends of medieval Europe to the sports mascots of the contemporary United States, we draw upon animal archetypes to focus our energies, shape our identities and understand the world around us. But why do animals have such an evocative and enduring power in our art, stories, dreams and thoughts?

FUSE 101 Frontiers: Human-imal will use critical thinking, reflective discussions and writing workshops to explore the meanings behind the astonishing diversity of animal influences on human culture and psychology. We will also leave the classroom to get face to face with these powerful symbols, confronting both truths and falsehoods alike. We will develop new insights about our place in the world and discover what it means to be a human animal.

Dr. Lori HuttonAround the World in 40 Days

Have you experienced the world?  Does traveling and learning about other countries broaden your views?  In this class, we will discuss how certain parts of the world at different times affected and shaped what is going on in the world today. This course is designed to see the world through the eyes of those who were directly impacted by certain historical and environmental events, look at multiple viewpoints, and promote critical thinking.

Dr. Ted VaggalisFinding Connections

The world is becoming more complex and the demands it makes on us are increasing. So too is the stress and pressure we feel as we try to live our lives, and many people are discouraged, feel alienated, and are more isolated. We are also seeing higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to previous generations. Why is this happening? What can we do about it? In this course we will explore the consequences of living in a fast-paced, overstimulating world, and how we might restructure our lives and respond in a healthier way. Our primary books for the course are Johann Hari’s Lost Connections and Huxley’s classic book, Brave New World. There will also be other readings that discuss a life well-lived and how we can achieve it. An important part of the course will be to consider how a student’s time here at Drury can prepare them, not only for work and career, but how to live a life that has purpose and meaning.

Dr. Samee SiddiquiGandhi and Non-Violence

The Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi helped India achieve independence from the British Empire in 1947. However, he is still remembered all over the world for the methods he employed to resist oppression: non-violent resistance. In this course, we will examine Gandhi’s journey towards employing non-violence and his justifications for doing so. Students will also learn about how Gandhi’s methods inspired other civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Dr. Katherine GilbertFrom Sonnets to Poetry Slams: Can poets change the world?

In 1821, poet P.B. Shelley wrote that the ability of poets to combine the imagination with the power of language made them the “unacknowledged legislators of the world.” Shelley believed that people who could see things as they are and use language and the imagination to help us see them too, were powerful figures. They can awaken something in us and help us to envision new possibilities in the world. In this class, we’ll ask, how does poetry get us to see things that are familiar to us as if we are seeing them for the first time? How does it get us to our imaginations, connect with each other, and see more deeply into the human experience? We will study a wide range of poems, from sonnets to spoken word. By the end of the semester, you will have honed your abilities in unpacking and understanding poetry and written your own analyses of how certain poems work.

Dr. Justin LeinaweaverBreaking News: The World Right Now

In this course we will use current events as a means for learning about the world, for thinking critically about where information comes from and for debating the importance of an informed electorate in a democracy.

Dr. Rich SchurAbout Time!

We talk about time constantly and use it as metaphor for everything: “time is money,” “running out of time,” “using your time wisely,” “a timeout,” and “time flies.” The experience of time is deeply personal yet framed by larger forces, such as religion, science, business, and culture. Time creates order out of chaos, creating chronology, organization, and meaning. This section of FUSE 101 explores how people conceive of, measure, and experience time. We will examine the invention and improvement of sun dials, hour glasses, clocks, time zones, the assembly line, the hourly wage, and the calendar. These innovations have changed perceptions of time and altered how people live. We will consider time from many angles and explore our personal relationship with time. Our goal is to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and unlock the many mysteries of time.

Dr. Tim RobbinsMonsters

This class will look at the idea of monsters and the monstrous as a cultural and social phenomenon through literature and pop culture.  We will explore the meaning of various monsters from classic mythology to today.

Dr. Julie CassityExploring the Use of Music for Personal Wellness

Students will explore the use of music in promoting wellness and enhancing quality of life. Students will delve into the relationship between music and wellness, gaining a deeper understanding of how music can positively impact physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well-being. Throughout the semester, students will examine various research findings that demonstrate mechanisms through which music influences wellness outcomes. Topics will include the physiological effects of music on the body, the psychology of music perception and emotion regulation, and the cognitive benefits of intentional music listening.  Students will explore various musical genres and learn how to create playlists to regulate mood, boost motivation, and activate memories.

By the end of the course, students will develop an understanding of the potential uses of music for wellness and gain practical skills for integrating music into their personal and professional lives. Students will leave this course equipped with a valuable toolkit for harnessing the therapeutic power of music.