Both words in the title of this course have manifold meanings. "Cultivation" is usually thought of in the sense of "agriculture" which is the cultivation of plants and soil. We can, however, cultivate our minds, our tastes, or our portfolios. The word really suggests putting attention into something, especially with the purpose of making something better. It is deeply related to the word "culture" and, hence, to the word "cult." Cults typically form around a person, or persons, who espouse specific, sometimes esoteric beliefs and aims. Culture, as such, represents an integration of specific beliefs, aims, and values. While we note the diversity of meanings here, we should note the universal suggestion of value-giving. Thus, "cultivating environments" means, at the very least, valuing and promoting value in environments.
What is an "environment," though? The principal word is "environ," and this word (a verb) means to run a ring round about or to surround. "Environment" means either the act of environing or that which does the environing. Obviously, there is a central object of some kind which is run about. That might be a person, a city, or an island. Generally speaking, in this course we are going to talk about "human environments" -- that is, whatever we find surrounding human beings. This might seem to be an easy and obvious concept, but it is not. There are wilderness environments, natural environments, agrarian environments, and urban environments -- just for starters. The closer we examine any one of these the more confusing the concept gets. What is wilderness? Can unnatural environments even exist? Why do humans build and transform environments? "Cultivating environments" does not necessarily mean valuing environments as we find them; it may also mean attending to them with the intention of improving them.
But how do we decide what improving our environment might be? Aren't we forced to ask what is good for us as well as what is good for that which environs us? The web is complete when we recognize that there is no "objectivity" here -- that is, we are caught in an iterative and symbiotic relationship with our environs. There is no such thing as a healthy human living in an unhealthy environment, or vice versa.
We will read all or portions of the following books: Neil Postman, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology (Vintage Books, 1993), Henry David Thoreau, Walden & Other Writings (McGraw-Hill, 1981), Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (Oxford University Press, 1989), Wallace Stegner, The American West as Living Space (University of Michigan Press, 1987), Wes Jackson, Becoming Native to This Place (Counterpoint, 1996), B. H. Fairchild, The Art of the Lathe: Poems (Alice James Books, 1998), Gary Snyder, The Practice of the Wild (North Point Press, 1990), and Donald Hoffman, Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture and Nature (Dover, 1986). [Note that these are mostly very small books and that actual daily reading assignments are usually 25-35 pages.]
Contact Information
My office is Room 249 in Parsons Hall, and my office phone number is 607-3148. I am in my office most of the time between 8:30 and 5:00 PM, and I encourage you to visit me at any time. If you have problems finding me, please make a special appointment. The best way to reach me and to get a quick reply is by e-mail at Tad_Beckman@HMC.EDU. Our teaching assistant in this section is Mary Ritter and she can be reached by e-mail at Mary.Ritter@CGU.EDU. She will have office hours in Parsons 270.
Course materials can be found on the course Web site at http://www4.hmc.edu/humanities/Hum1Beckman/index.htm
Assignments and Expectations
Attendance and participation in class are expected. If there is any reason why you cannot be in class, I would appreciate hearing from you. While many class meetings will be devoted to discussions about writing and exercises in writing and editing, most class sessions will involve discussion of common readings. It is extremely important, therefore, that all students complete the reading assigned for each class so that our discussions will be fruitful. There may be occasional unannounced reading quizzes.
Paper assignments are discussed separately on another page.
This course is graded on a HighPass, Pass, NoCredit basis. [During the semester we will also use a "LowPass" grade.] You will receive a substantial written commentary on each paper submitted as well as a grade. If you want to know an approximate evaluation of your other activities, during the semester, please ask me for an appraisal.
Grades will be based approximately on:
class participation (15%)
peer editing work (5%)
paper writing and revision (65%)
portfolio (15%)
Please note that the HMC Writing Center is open Sunday through Thursday, 6:00 to 11:00 PM. It is in Thomas-Garrett 106. You may call for an appointment or drop in.