Spring 2012
TTh 2-3:30
WEL 2.308

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME: FILM AND REALITY 

Classical Civilization 304C (33045)


From left to right: Ben Hur, Troy, Cleopatra, Passion of the Christ, 300 Spartans, Gladiator


 Instructor: Karl Galinsky

Office Hours: TTh 11:15-12:15, 3:30-4:00 and by appt.
WAG 215  
email: galinsky@austin.utexas.edu

TA: Kyle Sanders
Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:00pm, in WAG 121 
email: kyle.sanders@utexas.edu



REQUIRED TEXTS:

R. Morkot, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece (1996)
Homer, The Odyssey, trans. R. Fitzgerald (Farrar/Straus 1998)
A. Kamm, The Romans, 2nd ed. (Routledge 2008)
W.  Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (Folger Library ed., 2005)

There'll be two course packets, one on the Greek portion of the course, and the other on the Roman; available from Abel’s Copies (University Towers, 715D W. 23rd Street) .

....... LECTURES, FILMS, AND READINGS .......


GRADING AND EXAMS:

EXAMS: Four exams.  Three will count for 25% each towards your course grade; the one with the lowest score will count for 15%.   Optional additional work (such as a paper) will NOT be accepted; take the exams seriously and study for them. If you take the course CR/F, you must take all four exams and make a credible effort at passing each one. Each exam will be on the materials covered since the previous exam.

CLASS PARTICIPATION, QUIZZES, AND ATTENDANCE: 10% of final grade.

Format: 50% multiple choice questions (25 questions for 2 points each) and 50% essays (choose one of two topics), or 100% essays (write on both essays).
Review Sessions: We’ll have review sessions before each exam.  I will try to accommodate most of the reviews within the class periods, but some may take place outside of class and will, of course, be optional.

       
SCREENINGS: We'll arrange for screenings for the occasional movie that's not available through Netflix, iMovies, amazon, etc.

MAKE-UP TESTS: Only in case of a demonstrated medical reason (physician's statement required). If grandfather dies, I'll need to see a copy of the obituary, listing you as one of the bereaved.

INTERACTIVITY: I'm very accessible, but long e-mails are out, incl. on Facebook :). If you have detailed questions, see me during office hours.

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: I won't tolerate it. It's grossly unfair to the other students. Don't mess with me or Texas.See http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php and
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/for_faculty.php.

Students with disabilities: UT Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact SSD at 471-6259, or go to http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd. Note: students must present a UT "accommodation letter" authorizing specific accommodations. 

Religious holidays: If you need to miss a class or other required class activity for the observance of a religious holiday, you must notify me at least 14 days in advance so we can make alternative arrangements for your absence. Note: the University's Religious Days Policy is online: http://www.utexas.edu/provost/policies/religious_holidays.


HOW TO STUDY FOR THIS CLASS: 

(1) Take good notes. That does not mean a verbatim transcript. In the lectures, I rephrase major points more than once, so you have adequate time to write them down. Also, I stop at various points during the lecture to take questions, so feel free to ask. As for general study techniques, taking notes, summarizing readings, etc.the Learning Skills Center in Jester has an array of workshops and pamphlets, and they are free. Highly recommended, as is the Writing Center in FAC. In addition, I'm available in person during office hours, and by e-mail. So is the TA. We will not, however, offer a correspondence course. If you have detailed questions, see us during office hours.  Also, don't just watch the films, but take notes on them, both informational and for questions to bring up in class.

(2) Do the readings BEFORE the class in which they will be discussed and bring the texts to class. I will always alert you to this in advance. Mark up and highlight major points, facts, and examples in your readings. Likewise, budget time to watch the movies BEFORE the scheduled discussion time.

(3) Budget at least one hour a week to go over your lecture and film notes and your annotated/highlighted readings. Summarize them, synthesize them, and organize them. Memorize the major names, dates, facts, and connections. This will make your reviewing for the exams a lot easier as you can't intelligently digest a month's material a day or so before the exam.

(4) Form a study group. You still have to do most of the work on your own, but it helps to have the input from more than one person especially in reviewing before a test.

(5) Take the first exam seriously. Do not try to see whether I mean business. I do.

(6) When you see me or the TA with any concerns about your performance, be sure to bring in your lecture and film notes, your highlighted/annotated texts, and your summaries (along with your tests). That will enable us to give you concrete and specific advice.

(7) From the night before the lecture, the lecture outline will usually be available from the course web page; please bookmark it. The same goes for the syllabus: if you lose yours, download it from the Web. Before downloading, please check the date in the lower left corner so you get the updated 2012 version instead of an older one.

(8) Participate. Contribute to the class and discussion in an informed way.

Modified on 01/27/2012
galinsky@austin.utexas.eduu