Towards the beginning of the semester, I was still in the process of becoming accustomed with essentially having three courses combined into one. I have taken a few music history courses in high school and at a music conservatory but having the integration of art and literature made it more challenging. Not only did we have to learn the material from each section, but we also had to find connections between the concepts of each culture. In the past, I have always had trouble applying concepts. I can usually memorize information but the issue was taking it to the next level. HUMN 2001 has allowed me to appreciate the cultures and periods that we have learned about and it has made me realize that the world is truly remarkable. Throughout the centuries, all of the cultures have contributed various innovations that have led to the advancement of other cultures. In fact, our own culture is a fusion of cultures from all around the world. By having the chance to actually experience various religions through our off-campus labs, I was able to get a glimpse of the amount of diversity.
Music and literature have always been my favorite areas but my interest for art has grown throughout the semester. It was interesting to see the progression of techniques and styles in art from early Hinduism to the Renaissance. After going to the Morris Museum of Art, I now have a newfound love for Impressionism and it has inspired me to begin drawing in my sketchbook again. The course has taught me to look at paintings in an entirely different perspective. I enjoyed learning about great classics such as Dante’s Inferno and learning more about religions in the literature section of HUMN 2001. I love learning about psychology, sociology, and literature, and many aspects of the course have fallen into those categories. Although I have had some struggles within the course, it has taught me to appreciate humanity’s diversity and I look forward to taking HUMN 2002 next semester.
Word Count: 337
