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 2010-2011:
Date/Time Event Location/Additional Information
Jan. 13 - Jan. 29 Grand Rapids Civic Theatre: Harvey

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

30 N. Division

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

Jan. 15 - Feb. 10

Gallery hours

*Opening reception Jan. 15, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

 Bachelor of Fine Art Exhibition: Michaela Farley and Jaymes Miller

Art & Music Center Gallery (Upper level AMC)

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

Jan. 26 & 28, Feb. 2 - Feb. 4

7:30pm

 Calvin College Theatre Department: David: A Play With Psalms

Calvin Gezon Auditorium

Calvin College

3210 Burton Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

Jan. 28 - Jan. 29

8:00pm

 Grand Rapids Symphony: Mozart and Beethoven

DeVos Performance Hall

303 Monroe Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI

Jan. 30

7:00pm

 Hidegard of Bingen and the Living Light: A One Woman Drama About Composer Hildegard of Bingen

Spectrum Theater

160 Fountain Street NE

Grand Rapids, MI

Free with student ID!

Jan. 31

12:30pm - 1:30pm

*Light lunch at 11:45am

 "Buddhism: The Role of Prayer" by Presenter: Venerable Deokwun Russell Pitts, Monk, Grand Rapids Zen Center and Buddhist Temple

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

Feb. 3 - Feb. 4

 

 Grand Rapids Ballet Co. Junior Company Presents Snow White

Peter Martin Wege Theater

341 Ellsworth Avenue Southwest

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

Feb. 2 - Feb. 4

7:30pm

 Grand Rapids Opera presents Mozart's The Magic Flute

DeVos Performance Hall

303 Monroe Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI

Tip: Ask your professor about student showing (Free)

Ticket Information
Feb. 9 Contemporary Writers Series: Thylias Moss

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

Feb. 10 - Feb. 12

Feb. 17 - Feb. 19

 Grand Rapids Ballet Company: Amore & More

Peter Martin Wege Theater

341 Ellsworth Avenue Southwest

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

Feb. 17 - Feb. 18

7:00pm

 Grand Rapids Symphony: The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King

DeVos Performance Hall

303 Monroe Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

Feb. 19 - March 23

Gallery hours

*Opening reception Feb. 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Madeline and Darlene Kaczmarczyk

Ceramics and Photography

Arts & Music Center Gallery (Upper level AMC)

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

Feb. 21

12:30pm - 1:30pm

*Light lunch at 11:45am

 "Christianity: The Role of Prayer" by Presenters: Sr. Diane Zerfas, O.P., Director, Dominican Center, Marywood and Sherrill Vole, Minister for Christian Education and Family Life, Westminster Presbyterian Church

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

Feb. 23 - Feb. 25, 8:00pm

Feb. 26, 2:00pm

 Aquinas College Theatre Department: Arab-Israeli Cookbook More information to come.
Feb. 24 - March 18 Grand Rapids Circle Theatre: Bye, Bye Birdie

Grand Rapids Circle Theatre

30 N. Division

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information
March 14 Contemporary Writers Series: Scott Turow

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Ticket information to come

March 29

7:30pm

 Calvin Orchestra

Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium

Calvin College

3210 Burton Street Se

Grand Rapids, MI

Cost: Free!

April 1 - May 6

Gallery hours

 All Media Student Show

Arts & Music Center Gallery (Upper level AMC)

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

April 17, 12:30pm

*Light lunch at 11:45am

 Aquinas Lecture Series: "Risk Taking Behavior" Dr. Penny Avery

Wege Ballroom

Aquinas College

Cost: Free!

April 19 - April 21, 8:00pm

April 22, 2:00pm

 Aquinas College Theatre Department: Isle of Marvels More information to come.

April 19 - 21, 25 - 28

7:30pm

 Calvin College Theatre Department: The Book of the Dun Cow

Calvin Lab Theater

Calvin College

3210 Burton Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information
April 20 - April 21 Grand Rapids Junior Ballet Company: Adventures of a Dreamer

Peter Martin Wege Theater

341 Ellsworth Avenue Southwest

Grand Rapids, MI

Ticket Information

April 26

7:30pm

 Student Chamber Music Recital

Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium

Calvin College

3210 Burton Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI

Cost: Free!

April 28

8:00pm

 Calvin College Women's Chorale Concert

Calvin College Chapel

Calvin College

3210 Burton Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI

Cost: Free!
 
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)