| My Courses Spring 2005 |
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| Classes have started on Tuesday, January 18, 2005. I am enrolled for five courses, but have dropped "The American Presidency" after attending the first class. Instead, I enrolled for "Urban Antropology," and added "Sociology of Film" so I will still try and pass six courses this semester. Here is an overview of the courses I will take this Spring semester: "Media and the Urban Environment" Professor Thomas M. Mansheim, Ph.D. This couse will examine in detail the effects of mass media upon the urban environment, with special emphasis upon the electronin media and popular culture. Media culture, the dominant culture of Americans, will be examined in terms of the people, the products and the power exercised over society. Basic media theory will be covered. We will pay special attention to the impact of media technology, including computers, on zociety. Films, videos and where possible guest speakers, will supplement readings, discussions and lectures (source: course syllabus). "Urban Field Work" Professor David S. Surrey, Ph.D. In this course I can choose a topic in collaboration with my professor. He will then think of a suitable research which I will have to execute by conducting actual field research in New York. The topic will have to deal with urban developments taking place in New York City, like certain ethnic groups that live there, or its infrastructural projects. "Urban Anthropology" Professor Marilyn Cohen, Ph.D. This is the study of how people adapt culturally to living in cities. It reflects the growing interest in urban-based research in the field of socio-cultural anthropology. This course will introduce students to the study of urbanism (i.e. how large, dense, heterogeneous settlements shape human socio-cultural behavior) and urbanization (i.e. the evolution of urban settlements) through cultural space and historical time. An interdisciplinary perspective will be adopted, drawing on the insights of sociologits, historians, geographers and psychologists, along with contributions made by anthropologists. Students will be introduced to a comparative view of life in cities and to basic anthropological concepts and research methods (source: course syllabus). "Art and Desktop Publishing" Professor B. Mady, Ph.D. Deals with design applications QuarkXPress 6 and InDesign for Macintosch and Windows. In this this class I will learn to build and compose layouts for newspapers, magazines, books, menu's, etc. Currently, Quark is the industry's standard. However, InDesign by Adobe is on the rise since it is cheaper and compatible with many more applications than is Quark. "Introduction to Photography" Professor Frank Gimpaya, Ph.D. Introductory course to the art of photography. This course also deals with the technical aspects of photography. We will be working with old style cameras and 35mm black and white film. Digital photography is not involved in this course. Also see "Jur's Art of Photography" section, featuring pictures made during my stay here in the US, and of specific black and white assignments for this course. Also see work by Professor Frank Gimpaya. "Sociology of Film" Professor K. Hao, Ph.D. Deals with the sociological aspects of film. |