FYSE 1052 Color: Science and Culture
Spring 2004
Syllabus

Instructor: Professor Sunhee Choi (Office: BIH 544; x5716; e-mail: choi@middlebury.edu)
Writing tutor: Alexis Kearney (x6586)
Meeting Time and Place: T, Th 9:30 -10:45 am in BIH 430
Office hrs.: T afternoon or by appointment.

Power Point Presentation - Color
Illustration by Henry Roth '07 - "Color in Science and Culture"

Catalog Description:
What is color? Scientifically speaking, color is a micro-consciousness, and without you, color does not exist. Yet can you imagine living in a world without color? Probably not, for color plays a vital role in our culture. In this course, we will explore both the science of color, and the various aspects of color in art, philosophy and psycology. Texts include Color: Why the World Isn't Grey, Bright Earth: Art and the Inventiion of Color, Color in Nature:, A Visual and Scientific Exploration, Color and Culture, The Philosophy of Color, and The Primary Colors. (S. Choi)

Goals:
1. To learn the basic scientific (physics, chemistry, and biology) theory of color.
2. To explore the role of color in culture, psychology, history, art, and literature.
3.. To improve oral and written communication skills.

Rhetorical Concerns in a First-Year Seminar
set by FYS director, Professor Kathy Skubikowsky

By the end of the first semester, students should be able to:
1) Identify, summarise, and analyze the arguments of others; and summarize, paraphrase, and quote the ideas of others in support of their own arguments.
2) Formulate topics appropriate to writing assignments.
3) Find and cite appropriate sources for an assignment.
4) Shape unified paragraphs and connect them to achieve flow.
5) Control a five-page critical/analytical essay using more than one source.
6) Use informal writing techniques (freewrites,responses, field notes, postings).
7) Use editing/revising techniques, including responding to advice from peer review and conferences with the instructor.
8) Follow and contribute to in-class and online discussions.
9) Lead a discussion or present work orally.

Text books:
1. Rossotti, Hazel. Color: Why the World Isn't Grey. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
2. Gage, John. Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
3. Lamb, Trevor, and Bourriau, Janine, eds. Colour: Art & Science. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
4. Riley, Charles A. II. Color Codes: Modern Theories of Color in Philosophy, Painting and Architecture, Literature, Music, and Psychology. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England.
5. Faigley, Lester. The Penguin Handbook. New York, NY: Longman.

Expectations and grading:

1. Participation (20%)
Critical reading and active participation of class discussion. (20%)
Read the material in advance, summarize it in your own word, and use it for class discussion.
Self assessment and portfolio (containing your reading notes, e-mail, HW, papers, etc.)

2. e-mail to parents (c/c choi@middlebury.edu) to summarize what you have learned in class. (10%)

3. Occasional Homework assignment. (10%)

4. Three 5-page mid-term papers. (30%)

5. Oral Presentations. (10%)

6. Final 10-page term paper (20%)

Grading Scale: A 93.0-100%
  A- 90.0-92.9%
  B+ 87.0-89.9%
  B 83.0-86.9%
  B- 80.0-82.9%
  C+ 75.0-79.9%
  C 70.0-74.9%
  C- 65.0-68.9%
  D 50.0-64.9%
  F <49.9%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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