Humanities  
 

Cultural Events
 
The Humanities Program provides us with an opportunity to study the achievements of past cultures and to consider, in the main, the high points of their artistic, societal, and cultural achievements. We benefit by studying the record of past cultural successes and failures and can trace the evidence of our forebears' struggles to understand their place in the universe down through the ages to our own moment in time.
 
The humanities focuses on the art, literature, architecture, and the social and religious activities of the peoples that created our Western tradition. All of our present-day institutions are built on the foundations that we will spend the next two semesters examining. Though not the only source of our intellectual, political, and social vitality, we are strongly connected to a relentless, western cultural flow that is featured in our syllabus.
 
To better understand our dependence on the humanistic legacy of the past, it is appropriate for all of us to experience the richness of our present culture and to reflect on its connections to the humanistic traditions of the past. In addition to in-class activity, Humanities students are expected to attend three campus or community cultural events with Humanities-related content.
 
For each chosen event, students will:
  • arrive on time and stay until the end of the event;
  • write a 250-300 word written response to the event.
The written response should (1) provide the name of the event and where and when it took place; (2) a description of the highlights of the performance/presentation; and (3) a statement on how material presented relates to our study of the Humanities (for example, you might comment on how a work of art, music, or literature reflects that specific characteristics of a period we have studied).
 
Finally, the written response must be submitted to your instructor within two class meeting days from the date of the event. There are several starting points - generally in the West Michigan area - that can serve to provide us with at least three cultural experiences during the course of this semester.
 
Cultural Events Calendar 2012-2013:
Date/Time Event Location/Additional Information

January 13 and 17, February 10 and 24, and March 10

2:30 p.m.

 Chiaroscuro International Film Series

Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts

2 West Fulton

Downton Grand Rapids

Additional Information

Cost: Free!

January 22

7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

 "Bach to the Future" Concert

Kretchmer Recital Hall

Art and Music Center

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

January 28 at 12:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

January 29 and 30 at

7:00 p.m.

 Chartres Labyrinth Workshops and Walks as part of St. Thomas Aquinas Week

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

January 30

12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

 Jane Hibbard Idema Women's Studies Center Presents: The Dominican Sisters: Women Religious in Mission

Loutit Room

Wege Center

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

January 31

7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

22nd Annual St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture: "Can the Complementarity of Woman and Man be Proved?"

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

February 1, 8, 15, and 22

11:45 a.m.

"Four Fridays in February Organ Concerts"

Featuring Peter Kurdziel, Elizabeth Claar, Christopher Dekker, and Christopher Urban

Fountain Street Church

24 Fountain Street NE

Grand Rapids, MI

Additional Information

Cost: Free!

February 9

2:00 p.m.

 Aquinas College Philosophy Club presents: The Philosophy of Death

Donnelly Center

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!
February 21-23 at 8 p.m. and February 24 at 2 p.m. Aquinas Theatre Presents: Chicago

Performing Arts Center

Aquinas College

Ticket Information

March 19

9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

 Broadway Revue

Cook Carriage House

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

March 28

7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

 Dr. Edward Blum presents: The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America

GRCC Devos Campus

143 Bostwick Avenue NE

Grand Rapids, MI

More Information

Cost: Free!

April 7

3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

 Baroque Concert

Kretchmer Recital Hall

Art and Music Center

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

April 11

8:00 p.m.

 The Jane Doe Project

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!
April 18-20 at 8:00 p.m. and April 21 at 2:00 p.m. Aquinas Theatre Presents: Hotel Cassiopeia

Performing Arts Center

Aquinas College

Ticket Information
 
You are free to individually choose at least three activities from the following area institutions:
Other Entertainment Sources...
  • The Saint formerly the AQ Times (published twice monthly during the academic year)
  • Grand Rapids Press Weekend Magazine (available in the Grand Rapids Press every Thursday)