Lea J. Parker
Assist. Prof., Environmental Communication, School of Communication
Box 5619
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Office: Bldg. 16, Room 205 D
Phone: (520) 523-4661;
FAX: (520) 523-1505 E-Mail: Lea.Parker@nau.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION, PURPOSE AND JUSTIFICATION:
Environmental themes have recurred in the communication arts since the beginning of the human experience. In the 20th Century, communication arts have played a vital role in public perception and government policy concerning environmental issues.This course offers an analytical exploration and interpretation of oral (and aural), visual and written artistic and communication works that have reflected and influenced contemporary environmental thought.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this course the student will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:
(1) an understanding of how environmental issues have influenced oral (and aural), visual and written communication
(2) an understanding of how oral (and aural), visual and written communication has influenced public perception
(3) an understanding of how oral (and aural), visual and written communication has influenced public policy
(4) develop effective research skills for analysis of oral (and aural), visual and written environmental communication
(5) develop effective writing skills for the interpretation of oral (and aural), visual and written environmental communication
(6) develop an appreciation for how oral (and aural), visual and written communication can portray the environment
COURSE PROCEDURE:
This semester - long course will be divided into essentially three components: the oral (and aural) component will primarily examine music; the visual component will primarily examine artworks; the written component will primarily examine written works (creative, persuasive and legal).
There is no text for this course. Selected readings will be supplied to the student at the instructor's descriptions. Readings may include but are not limited to: musical lyrics, critical analysis of music, descriptions of artworks, critical analysis of artworks, creative and artistic writings of environmental writers, public policy documents dealing with environmental issues, Supreme Court environmental rulings and, environmental articles for the purpose of comparing oral, visual and written communication with primary environmental theories.
ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS:
Assignments will be given in class. It is the responsibility of students with excused absences to contact the instructor about make up work. In addition to in class exercises which are worth participation points, students will write three major papers, one for each component of the course: oral (aural), visual, and written. Tests will consist of a midterm and a final.
Completion of in - class work assignments and tests will be used to attain cumulative points. It should be noted that completion of the assignment does not insure maximum point value; therefore, students wishing to achieve a high grade should strive to attain the most points possible for all assignments. Written assignments are subject to the School of Communication Policies and Standards (see attached copy). Note: there is no "make-up" for missed in- class work. Students are expected to keep copies of all graded returned work in a class notebook and will be asked to exhibit these in case of grade dispute. Individual grades will be discussed by appointment only.
GRADE SCALE:
Grades will be distributed according to the following scale: 92 percent and above = A: 83- 91 percent = B; 74-82 percent = C; 65-73 percent = D; below 65 percent = F.
Note: Students are expected to complete every assignment by established deadline. There is no alternate make up work for this class.
GRADE WORKS:
* Analysis Paper No. 1: Impact of a Musician or Musical Selection on Environmental Perception and/or Policy - 100 points
* Analysis Paper No. 2: Impact of an Artist or Artwork on Environmental Perception and/or Policy - 100 points
* Analysis Paper No. 3: Impact of a Writer or a Written Work on Environmental Perception and/or Policy - 100 points
* Midterm Test - 100 points
* Final Test - 100 points
* In Class Participation points - 10 to 20 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE = Approximately 510-520
Deadlines are absolute! No work will be accepted after the scheduled deadline, resulting in a grade of ZERO (O) for the assignment not turned in by deadline.
Students missing one or more classes Jeopardize their grades. The material for this course is taken from a variety of sources in addition to assigned readings. Lectures will not be repeated. Excused absences are given for the following reasons only: (a) illness documented by written doctor's medical statement or copy of prescription: (b) family emergencies documented by appropriate evidence, (c) institutional reasons documented by official institutional excuse form.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
All work submitted for this course must be original and must be completed during the semester in which the class is taken. No duplicate work (work completed for other classes) will be accepted and will be considered cheating. Any act of cheating or plagiarism will result in a grade of ZERO (O) for the assignment or test in question and may result in the lowering of the final grade by one or more letter grades, subject to instructor discretion.
SAMPLES OF COURSE CONTENT:
Oral (Aural) Component: Music
Classical: "The Planets" by Gustav Holst; "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi; "Grand Canyon Suite" by Ferde Grofe; "Pastoral" by Beethoven; "Mysterious Mountain" and "And God Created Great Whales" by Alan Hovhaness; "Night Watchers" by Dan Welcher
Contemporary: "Red Rain" by Peter Gabriel; "If a Tree Falls" and "Radium Rain" by Bruce Cockburn; "She'll Take You Back" by Pink Floyd; "Yosemite" by David Arkenstone; "Fragile Mystery" by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel; "Madre De La Tierra" by David Lanz; "Lament for Hetch Hetchy" by Alasdair Fraser; the album "Civilized Evil" by Jean A Luc Ponty; the album "The Eleventh Hour" by Mars Lasar; the album "Dolphin Smilesn" by Steve Kindler and Teja Bell; the albums "Canyon, Callings," and "Missa Gaia" by Paul Winter
Visual Component: Artworks
Classical: Impressionistic Nature and Pastoral Art of: Claude Monet, such as "Water Lilies;" Vincent Van Gogh, such as "Starry Night" and "Crows over a Wheat Field," Henri Rousseau, such as "In the Forest," "Jungle Scenery with Setting Sun," "The Snake Charmer," and "The Waterfall." The Italian art of Botticelli, Giorgione, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Lorenzetti
Contemporary: Studies of art portraying environmental concepts, such as "Balance" by Robert Lewis Arnold; the work of Jay Burch, Susan Seddon Boulet, Scott Thom and other modern artists; Photos that have influenced national park policy, such as those of Ansel Adams; Studies of architecture that promotes environmental sustainability, such as Paolo Soleri's Arcosanti.
Written Component: Rhetoric
Classical to Contemporary:
From the poetic works of Erasmus Darwin to the classic by his son, Charles Darwin, Origin of the Species, to the classic Silent Spring of Rachel Carson, to the creative works of Robinson Jeffers, Loren Eiseley, and Edward Abbey. Other writings include works by Annie Dillard, Aldo Leopold, David Leveson, Jim Nollman, Rene Dubos, David Attenborough, Jacques Cousteau. Also: Legal writings such as Supreme Court environmental decisions.