1. Do representations of women today objectify them in the same or similar ways as what Berger argues about women depicted in Renaissance paintings? Do women have control over their images in the media or are they still determined by the male gaze? Does sexuality play the same role in images of women today as what Berger describes? (As you think about your answer think of specific places in the episode to respond to, and try to use techniques from They Say/I Say to formulate your response. In other words, use Berger’s analysis as a “they say.”)

Please write a brief blog post that responds to the two questions below. Remember to also respond to at least one classmate:

1. According to Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, writers should use the model of “entering the conversation” in their writing. What are the advantages of this model?
2. The smarthistory videos on the schedule this week discuss how learning to look at artwork help us analyze other situations. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Hi everyone!

My name is Paul Fess, and this is my fourth year teaching at LaGuardia. Before coming to the College I taught at the University of Alabama and the University of Rochester. But, before that I taught at several CUNY schools as part of my graduate program at the CUNY Graduate Center.

 

 

 

 

 

I specialize in nineteenth-century American literature and culture, and I love playing blues and jazz guitar. These days, though, I mostly hang out with these people, my wife Krystyna, my son Andrzej (pronounced “An-jay”), and my daughter Zosia (pronounced Zo-Sha). 

 

Discussion Questions for Episodes 5 & 6, Ways of Hearing

Discussion questions #6

 

Discussion questions #5

Discussion questions #4

Discussion questions #3

Prompt for discussion question #1

In these three videos, the smarthistory presenters attempt to answer three big questions: “why art matters,” how the ways we look at a work shape our experiences and interpretations, “how art can help us analyze.” 

 

Choose one of these questions and write about whether or not you think the presenters make a convincing case and pose any questions you might have. (Don’t forget to both post your own response and respond to two of your classmates.)